HONOLULU - Governor Josh Green, M.D., enacted 253 of the 260 bills passed during the 2024 legislative session. As of July 10, Governor Green hosted 16?bill signing ceremonies for 137 bills on issues related to short-term rental regulation, good government, affordable housing, environmental protections, native Hawaiian cultural preservation, health care systems, as well as historic income tax reform and reducing the cost of living. 

These enacted laws represent Governor Green’s commitments and investments to achieving The Hawai?i We Deserve, the Green Administration’s comprehensive policy agenda aimed at tackling the key issues faced by the state of Hawai?i.   

Some key developments during the last legislative session include:  

On July 9, Governor Green signed HB 1800 (Act 230, SLH 2024), the supplemental budget act which amends Act 164, SLH 2023, and appropriates $19.1 billion across all means of financing, including more than $10.3 billion in general funds for operating support for fiscal year 2025. For capital improvement projects (CIP), $4.5 billion is appropriated across all means of financing, including $1.4 billion in general obligation (G.O.) bond funds for construction projects statewide.

Governor Green enacted line-item budget reductions totaling $74.2 million for operating in general funds for fiscal year 2025. No cuts to social services were considered or included in the line-item reductions. After these modest operating reductions, every program has a base level of general funds for fiscal year 2025 that is greater than those in previous supplemental years. These line-item reductions represent less than 1% of the total state budget.

Governor Green also enacted line-item budget reductions totaling $79.5 million for CIP in general funds for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. For CIP, G.O. bond funds are the preferred means of financing. Each CIP program has substantial G.O. bond fund appropriations to continue improving facilities for schools, libraries and universities.

On June 3, Governor Green signed HB 2404 (Act 46, SLH 2024) into law, providing significant tax relief to Hawai?i’s working families. The largest income tax cut for working families in the state’s history, this legislation increases the standard deduction, which benefits low- and medium-income households and amends the tax brackets by eliminating the lowest brackets and lowering the tax rates for all brackets. 

In signing this historic bill, the Green Administration studied the impacts of all the tax proposals under consideration in the Legislature, including the Child Care Tax Credit advocated by the Progressive caucus. Research by the Department of Taxation showed that this tax cut was, by far, the most effective and significant policy approach to support working families. The tax cut provides 10 times more benefits to working families than the childcare tax credit, amounting to a 71% decrease in income tax by 2031. 

On May 3, Governor Green signed SB 2919 (Act 17, Session Laws of Hawai?i (SLH) 2024) into law, which clarifies the counties’ authority to control the time, place, manner and duration of land uses, particularly transient accommodations including short-term rentals. SB 2919 will expand the counties’ zoning powers and broaden the scope of the Transient Accommodations Tax Law.

On June 27, Governor Green signed HB 2159 (Act 87, SLH 2024), which amends Hawai?i’s mental health statute to emphasize enhanced support for individuals needing assisted community treatment (ACT). These changes, which require the Department of the Attorney General to assist in preparing and filing petitions for ACT and allow private petitioners to decline, aim to streamline access to mental health services and divert individuals away from the criminal justice system, promoting a more compassionate and effective approach to mental health care in Hawai?i. 

On June 20, the Green Administration joined plaintiffs representing Hawai?i’s youth in announcing the resolution of the Navahine v. Hawai?i Department of Transportation (HDOT) constitutional climate case. Approved by the court, the agreement creates a framework to be executed by the HDOT that further confirms Hawai?i’s position as one of the leading states in the nation in moving from a transportation system that depends on fossil fuels to a cleaner and safer system that supports a transition to vehicles that run on clean electricity or alternative fuels and gives people more choices to get around by walking, cycling/scootering and riding public transit.

On July 1, Governor Green signed HB 2430 (Act 155, SLH 2024), which aims to maximize participation in the federal summer electronic benefits transfer (EBT) for children program, highlighting the Green Administration’s commitment to ensuring food security for Hawai?i’s youth. The Act requires the Department of Education to work with the Department of Human Services to share necessary data and comply with federal regulations. The Act appropriates $53,500 for the Department of Education and $2,050,000 for the Department of Human Services for FY 2024-2025, contingent on matching federal funds.

On July 5, in response to the 2023 Maui wildfires, Governor Green signed legislation for fire safety and disaster resilience, including legislation that would create the Office of the State Fire Marshal (Act 209, SLH 2024) to enhance fire safety and prevention across Hawai?i and establish an Illegal Fireworks Task Force to improve public safety (Act 208, SLH 2024).

Governor Green also signed more than 116 additional bills, separate from the public signings in his ceremonial room.

Governor Green issued seven vetoes on July 9, due to legal, fiscal, and governmental operational efficiency concerns. 

In signing these historic pieces of legislation, Governor Green thanked legislative leaders, partners and key community stakeholders for helping draft and pass important legislation to address state priorities.

“While this past session was not without its challenges, my Administration worked closely with the Hawai?i State Legislature to support major priorities for our residents, including providing generational reform through the Green Affordability Plan (GAP) and funding unprecedented wildfire recovery efforts, while maintaining our state’s fiscal strength and investments in housing, health care, the environment, and education.” 

During the 2024 Legislative Session, the Green Administration advocated for critical funding for solutions against unprecedented crises such as the Maui wildfires, increased cost of living, a shortage of affordable housing, and homelessness. “Despite the high costs of recovery, we’ve balanced the budget and reformed our tax system to put more hard-earned income in the pockets of our residents. I look forward to building on the incredible successes of this past session,” said Governor Green. 

Highlights of enacted laws for the people of Hawai?i include: 

- Good Government Bills (6 bills)

- Short-term Rental Regulation Bill

- Affordable Housing Bills (6 bills)

- Condo Owner Relief Bills (5 bills)

- Historic Income Tax Reform Bill and Medical Care GET Exemption Bill

- Healthcare Access and Healthcare Workforce Development Bills (22 bills)

- DHHL and Native Hawaiian Bills (13 bills)

- Keiki and Kupuna Wellness Bills (16 bills)

- Agriculture Bills (12 bills)

- Wildfire Resilience and Disaster Preparedness Bills (16 bills)

- Environmental Conservation and Land Management Bills (16 bills)

- Crime and Community Safety Bills (17 bills)

- Designating State Snails Bill

- Water Safety Bills (2 bills)

Bills enacted into law?by Governor Josh Green, M.D., may be found on the Hawai?i State Legislature website. 

Office of the Governor?news releases?relating to bill signings and other matters of statewide public interest may be found here.? 

Photos from today’s news conference, courtesy Office of the Governor, will be uploaded here.

Governor Green presented this slide deck during today’s event.

Video of the news conference can be viewed here.