2020 legislative session

Maui Mayor, Seeking GET Tax Surcharge, Apologizes For Missed Deadline

By • Jan 16, 2020
Flickr - jdnx

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino is asking the state Legislature to extend a deadline that will allow the county to impose a general excise tax surcharge on business activities such as sales of products.

Hawaii Lawmakers Vow To Address High Cost Of Living

By • Jan 16, 2020
Audrey McAvoy/AP

Lawmakers opened a new session of the Hawaii Legislature on Wednesday with vows to address the state's punishingly high cost of living so families don't have to abandon the islands for cheaper places.

Hawaii Lawmakers Aim To Boost Housing, Income, Education

By • Jan 15, 2020
Audrey McAvoy/AP

Hawaii House and Senate leaders, with the support of Gov. David Ige, on Tuesday unveiled a long list of measures to boost housing, early childhood education and incomes with a particular focus on alleviating the struggles of Hawaii’s working families and poor.

Hawaiian Homes Says It Needs $43M to Develop More Lots

By • Jan 14, 2020
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is asking the Legislature for more than $40 million this year to deliver homestead lots to qualified native Hawaiians.

What Will Be The Defining Issue Of The 2020 Legislature?

By • Jan 14, 2020
Catherine Cruz / HPR

Problems abound but no single issue appears to have yet united Hawaii lawmakers as the opening of the 2020 legislative session approaches on Wednesday.

Nearly A Quarter of Hawaii Homes Are Purchased By Out-Of-State Buyers

By • Jan 8, 2020
Travis Thurston / Wikimedia Commons

Hawaii’s chief economist told lawmakers on Tuesday that 24% of Hawaii homes were purchased by buyers from outside the state. The figure is even higher on the neighbor islands.

$14M in University Of Hawaii Funding In Legislative Crosshairs

By • Jan 6, 2020
State Sen. Donna Mercado Kim / Facebook

The 2020 state legislative session hasn’t even begun, but already a dispute is brewing over funding for the University of Hawaii.

Governor Wants More Money For Teachers, Infrastructure

By • Dec 16, 2019
Ryan Finnerty

Hawaii Gov. David Ige wants to spend an additional half a billion dollars over the next two years on state government operations.