Top priority bill update - April 13
/Top good bills we support:
HB431/HB544/HB597/SB230/SB292/SB474/SB503 - SEA LEVEL RISE DISCLOSURE (SUPPORT) - Requires that mandatory seller disclosures in real estate transactions include identification of residential real properties lying within the sea level rise exposure area. While there were 7 similar bills introduced, only one is still alive.
ALIVE: SB474 - Sponsored by Sen. Keith-Agaran + 5 other senators. Heard and passed on 4/1 in CPC by Reps Johanson, Kitagawa, Aquino, Har, Hashem, Mizuno, Morikawa, Onishi, Tarnas, Matsumoto with Rep Kong excused. Then unanimously passed on the House floor on 4/9, headed to conference committee and hopefully to become a law!
HB243 - SEA LEVEL RISE PLANNING (SUPPORT) - Requires all state agencies to identify infrastructure susceptible to sea level rise hazards, assess mitigation options, identify department point of contacts for statewide sea level rise coordination, and submit reports.
ALIVE: HB243 - Sponsored by Rep. Tarnas + 28 other House members. Heard and passed unanimously on 4/1 in WAM. Now headed to the Senate floor and hopefully on to conference committee then to become law.
HB463/HB552/SB500/SB920 - ESTABLISHES 100% CLEAN GROUND TRANSPORTATION GOALS (SUPPORT) - Sets statewide goals for state and county public vehicle fleets to transition to clean transportation vehicles. Of the four bills introduced, two were heard.
ALIVE: HB552 - Sponsored by Rep. Lowen + 19 other House members. Heard and passed in WAM by Sens Dela Cruz, Keith-Agaran, English, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Moriwaki, Shimabukuro, Wakai, Fevella; Sen. Taniguchi excused. Now headed to the Senate floor and hopefully onto conference committee then to become law.
DEAD: SB920 - Sponsored by Sen. Wakai. Supported unanimously in the Senate. Not heard in FIN by Rep. Luke.
SB512 - EXPANDS SNAP DOUBLE BUCKS FOR LOCAL FOOD PURCHASES (SUPPORT) - Expands the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s “Double Up Food Bucks” initiative to incentivize the purchase of local produce and proteins for low-income beneficiaries.
ALIVE: SB512 - Sponsored by Sen. Dela Cruz + 8 other Senators. Heard and passed unanimously on 4/5 in FIN. Now headed to the House floor and hopefully onto conference committee then to become law.
Top bad bills we oppose:
SB1237/HB1173/HB1174 - CUTS THE SOLAR TAX CREDIT (OPPOSE) - Reduces the renewable energy technologies income tax credit by 50%.
ALIVE: HB1174 - While the two original bills (SB1237/HB1173) that aimed to cut the solar tax credit died, a sneaky gut and replace to HB1174 has brought back the 50% cut. HB1174 originally amended the tax credit to Hawaiʻi’s movie industry and now incorporates a slash to the solar tax credit.
The gut & replaced bill was heard for decision in WAM on 4/1 with yes votes from Sens Dela Cruz, Keith-Agaran, English, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Moriwaki, Shimabukuro, Wakai; with reservations: Sen. Taniguchi and no vote by Sen Fevella. This bill will be heard on the Senate floor today. Stay tuned for actions around this bill if it heads to conference committee.
HB469/SB693 - TRANSFERS 93,000 ACRES OF WATERSHED “PASTURELANDS” FROM DLNR TO DOA (OPPOSE) - Requires that agricultural lands under the jurisdiction of the department of land and natural resources be transferred to the department of agriculture not later than 12/31/2023.
ALIVE: HB469 - Sponsored by Rep. Onishi + 5 other House members. Heard and passed unanimously on 4/7 in WAM and passed on 4/6 in JDC with yes votes from Sen. Rhoads, Keohokalole, Gabbard, Fevella; with reservations: Sen. Kim; no vote from Sen. Acasio and Sen. Lee excused. Headed to the Senate floor.
HB499/SB257 - 99 YEAR LEASES ON PUBLIC LANDS (OPPOSE) - Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to extend certain leases of public lands for commercial, industrial, resort, mixed-use, or government use upon approval of a proposed development agreement to make substantial improvements to the land.
ALIVE: HB499 - Sponsored by Rep. Tarnas + 14 other House members. Heard and passed in WAM with yes votes from Sen. Dela Cruz, Keith-Agaran, English, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Moriwaki, Shimabukuro, Taniguchi, Wakai; no vote from Sen. Fevella. Headed to the Senate floor.
HB686/SB612- ANTI-PROTESTER BILL (OPPOSE) - This bill would make it a Class C Felony to protest at energy infrastructure sites.
DEAD: HB686 - Sponsored by Rep. Nakashima + 11 other House members. Not heard in JDC by Sen. Rhoads, good work everyone!
HB497 - “STREAMLINING” COUNTY DEVELOPMENTS - Prohibits the counties from requiring, as part of a county zoning ordinance or county rule, a developer with more than one residential unit to obtain the approval of any state agency unless that approval is expressly required by law.
DEAD: HB497 - Sponsored by Rep. Tarnas + 16 other House members. Not heard in JDC/WAM by Sen. Rhoads and Sen. Dela Cruz, good work everyone!