CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / MAY 5
House of Representatives members are in session on May 5 at the state Capitol.
Select an option below to continue reading this premium story.
Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading.
State lawmakers wrapped up the 2016 session of the Legislature Thursday after approving measures to provide $100 million to cool public school classrooms and tuck away $150 million in the state’s “rainy day” budget reserve fund.
Lawmakers rejected all proposed tax increases this year, but did approve bills to tweak and tighten Hawaii’s gun-control laws and authorize state prison officials to release some low-level accused or convicted criminals to relieve jail overcrowding.
At the request of Gov. David Ige, lawmakers also approved an array of bills that would invest millions of taxpayer dollars into programs to try to cope with Hawaii’s homeless crisis, and to spend public funds to subsidize development of affordable rental housing.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Capitol Bureau has summarized those measures and dozens more in a quick update on Page B6 that details how the 60-working-day session played out.
The measures approved by state lawmakers this year will now be submitted to Ige, who has the option of signing them into law, vetoing the bills or allowing them to become law without his signature. Lawmakers can override the veto of any bill with a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate.
In the weeks ahead, individuals and organizations such as the National Rifle Association and others will be lobbying Ige to try to persuade him to veto bills they oppose, or sign measures that they support.
To let Ige know your views on a bill, send him a message at governor. hawaii.gov by clicking on “Contact Us,” or call 586-0034.
How Major Bills Fared at the Capitol by Honolulu Star-Advertiser
