Save the Date: Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 5-6:30 p.m. Please join me, along with Representatives from House Leadership, for a town hall meeting at the Waimea School cafeteria.
The Hawaii State Legislature began the 2019 session last month and thousands of bills were introduced in the House and Senate. These bills cover a broad expanse of policy issues that address everything from supporting our public school teachers to regulating vaping. While some of these bills get a great deal of attention from the media, there are many bills that are meaningful and substantive, but don’t get in the spotlight. In this legislative update, I’ll provide the status on some bills from both groups.
A big issue this year at the Legislature is providing some emergency funding to Hawaii County to address the financial impacts of the Kilauea lava flow in Puna. Over 700 homes were destroyed with a total of over $800 million in damages on the island including about $236 million in damages to roads, parks and water systems. The entire island felt the impacts from loss of visitors. Just last week, a joint House committee approved a package of $20 million in direct funding and another $40 million loan to provide a match to federal funding from FEMA. The county must provide monthly reports on how the money is spent and the County Council must accept the money by resolution. The measure now goes to the Finance Committee next.
Another major issue this session is increasing the minimum wage. While I do support efforts to establish a fair minimum wage, I am also concerned about the potential negative impact on small businesses from substantial increases in the minimum wage. That’s why I am advocating for a policy that would increase minimum wage gradually over several years, adding a tip credit for restaurant workers, and providing for lower minimum wages for workers in training, for employees younger than 18, for businesses with less than 10 employees, and for agricultural businesses.
Homelessness continues to be a big issue again this session. Last session, over $30 million in Ohana Zone money was made available for transitional housing projects and related services for the homeless. This session, the Legislature may increase the money available through this program. Now it is up to our county government to request the money and implement transitional housing projects.
Some of the bills I introduced relate to energy, the environment, social issues, government efficiency, and Capital Improvement Projects.
Environmental Bills
HB 298 authorizes government agencies to produce and transmit renewable energy across the utility grid to other government facilities
HB 1460 authorizes the use of the boating special fund for the statewide day-use mooring buoy program
HB 1152 supports a statewide consultation process with fishermen and other stakeholders to develop a plan for achieving effective management of at least 30 percent of our nearshore marine resources by 2030
HB 1082 provides support to DLNR to identify and secure rights of access across private lands to public lands for hiking purposes
HB 1083 appropriates funds to address the spread of rapid ohia death
HB 297 directs the state to review the use of sterile mosquitoes as a vector control tool
Social Issue Bills:
HB 295 amends the definition of domestic abuse to include emotional abuse between family or household members
HB 767 authorizes a family court judge to enforce temporary restraining orders
HB 1458 appropriates funds to the state rent subsidy program, which is used by renters who are short on funds to pay their monthly rent so they don’t become homeless
HB 296 addresses the constitutional concerns of the Supreme Court decision that overturned grandparents’ visitation rights
Government Efficiency Bills:
HB 766 authorizes the use of email to serve notice in non-criminal and administrative proceedings
HB 1153 allows remote testimony to the Legislature by phone or video
These bills are just a small portion of the many bills we are considering at the legislature to address issues of importance to our community. I welcome your advice and counsel at any time. Please contact me or my staff at the Capitol at 808-586-8510 or reptarnas@capitol.hawaii.gov. Mahalo.
