Red-light cameras bill advances
A proposal to deploy high-tech cameras for traffic enforcement by photographing the license plates of motorists who run red lights has been approved by two committees in the state Senate. Read more
Hawaii Legislature 2017
Coverage of the 2017 Hawaii state legislative session.
Hawaii bill would allow medical aid in dying
As a stage-four prostate cancer patient, Joe Herzog has been considering how he might die and knows he could face intractable vomiting and starvation in the final days or weeks of his life. Read more
Bill to alter ‘quiet title’ law advances
A bill that would help families fight lawsuits like recent ones filed by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to acquire ancestral lands in Hawaii by forced sale took its first step forward at the state Legislature on Tuesday. Read more
House bill seeks more oversight over commercial fishing in Hawaii
State lawmakers are calling for more oversight of the commercial fishing industry after an Associated Press investigation found hundreds of foreign fishermen confined to boats and some living in subpar conditions. Read more
Bills tackle bed space at Maui hospital
Lawmakers are pushing several bills that aim to free up beds at Maui Memorial Medical Center by moving costly long-term care patients into other health care facilities. Read more
State files appeal over TMT sublease hearing
The state has appealed a judge’s order requiring the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to hold a contested case hearing on the sublease between the University of Hawaii at Hilo and the Thirty Meter Telescope. Read more
Bills would have state reap online sales tax
Lawmakers are advancing an assortment of bills this year to begin collecting state excise taxes that are owed for online sales of retail products. Read more
Legislators push efforts to guard landowners’ claims
Forcing kamaaina families to sell their ancestral lands has been a provocative issue in Hawaii for more than a century, and that’s not changing just because the billionaire leader of Facebook has quit his litigation to acquire such land on Kauai. Read more
Senate panel advances proposal to boost taxes to aid education
A proposed tax on residential investment properties and visitor accommodations to raise for Hawaii public schools cleared its first hurdle. Read more
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Hawaii bill would legalize prostitution industry
Lawmakers are considering decriminalizing prostitution in the state after the speaker of the House introduced a bill that would also legalize buying sex and acting as a pimp. Read more
Bills would fund homeless initiative
Key Hawaii lawmakers are hoping to secure $3.5 million annually over the next two years to continue a program that has been credited with helping hundreds of families in the past year escape or avoid homelessness. Read more
Isle Republican leader ousted
Republicans in the Hawaii House of Representatives on Wednesday ousted minority leader Rep. Beth Fukumoto over her criticism of President Donald Trump, including calling him a bully at last month’s Women’s March in Honolulu. Read more
Legislators push for collection of online taxes
With tax collections apparently leveling off this year, lawmakers are now pressing state tax officials to explain what they plan to do to capture millions of dollars in uncollected taxes owed for internet sales in Hawaii. Read more
Senate asks attorney general to step in on HTA predicament
State Sen. Donna Mercado Kim has asked Hawaii’s attorney general to determine whether the Hawaii Tourism Authority is violating open-meeting requirements by discussing public matters in closed-door executive sessions. Read more
Bill would prevent 2 jobs for top officers
A leading Democrat in the state House has introduced a bill to prohibit the governor and the four Hawaii mayors from accepting any outside employment or earnings while in office, a measure that, if passed, would most likely affect Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Read more
Teachers pitch a tax for funding
The teachers union has again set its sights on generating more taxes to increase funding for Hawaii public schools. This time, it’s eyeing residential investment properties and visitor accommodations. Read more
Bills would have state foot college cost
Hawaii could soon join other states in offering tuition-free college under legislative proposals to have the state pick up the cost of tuition and other school expenses for needy students enrolled at University of Hawaii community colleges. Read more
Prayers, music kick off new legislative session
Lawmakers are expecting spirited debates on issues of rail financing, “death with dignity,” overcrowded jails, affordable housing and the state’s ongoing homeless problem. Read more
Rail, pension fund top state’s agenda
State lawmakers, initially signaled that there would be cash to spare for their annual budget-making exercise, now find themselves instead in frustrating if familiar territory: choosing the winners and losers in the battle for taxpayer dollars. Read more
Hawaii bill aims for 100 percent renewable transportation
Hawaii has the most aggressive renewable energy targets in the nation, aiming for its utilities to get 100 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2045. Read more
State Legislature opens amid debate over death, rail, jails
Several hundred people gathered at the state Capitol in downtown Honolulu Wednesday morning to kick off the opening of this year’s legislative session in which lawmakers are expecting spirited debates on issues of rail financing, “death with dignity,” overcrowded jails and the state’s ongoing homeless problem. Read more
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