State Senate, House committees approve final FY 2024-25 budget bill

The final version of the state supplemental budget for fiscal year 2024-25 was approved Tuesday night by Hawai‘i Senate and House conferees.

The budget bill includes:

• An operating budget of $10,395,945,997 in general funds and $19,209,528,184 through all methods of funding.
• A capital improvement projects budget of $1,452,550,000 in general obligation bond funds and $4,505,451,000 through all methods of funding, as well as $10 million (operating) and $20 million (capital improvements) in grants-in-aid.

“The budget bill that we passed … balances the ongoing needs of Maui while also preparing our state for future disasters and working to diversify our economy and workforce to keep our keiki in Hawaiʻi,” said state Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz of O‘ahu, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, in a press release. “As with any budget, difficult decisions must be made, but we are confident that the strategic forward-thinking collaboration between the Legislature and administration resulted in a budget that is proactive in developing a diversified economy and stabilizes core services and programs to address the needs of our most vulnerable residents.”

State Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita of Maui, chairperson of the House Committee on Finance, said the budget was approached with careful consideration, reflecting the House’s dedication to fiscal prudence, accountability and transparency.

“As we commenced this legislative session, our immediate focus remained to address the Maui wildfire recovery efforts, prioritizing safety and rehabilitation of our communities while ensuring core services for our state were not neglected,” said Yamashita in the press release.

He added that despite funding uncertainties, the final approved version of the budget reflects ensures adequate resources for mental health services, health care for the disabled and elderly, business and workforce development, childcare and education, affordable housing and public welfare.

“Furthermore, we have made significant investments in biosecurity to protect our land and natural resources, which reinforces the urgency of safeguarding our environment against invasive pests that endanger Hawaiʻi’s native species and communities,” Yamashita said. “Designating a centralized agency to bolster the defense of our lands and shores will protect our natural habitat and preserve the well-being of our state.”

The supplemental budget will be voted on a final time in both chambers before being sent to Gov. Josh Green for his consideration.

Notable budget highlights include appropriations for the following agencies:

Department of Agriculture

• Converting 46 positions from special funds to general funds for biosecurity.
• Converting 20 positions from revolving funds to general funds for biosecurity.
• Converting position from permanent to temporary and increase trust fund ceiling by $93,434 for a grant writer.
• Adding $1.5 million for Da Bux Program.
• Adding 3 positions and $1 million for meat inspections.

Department of Accounting and General Services

• Adding $400,000 for menstrual products and dispensers.
• Adding $102,200 in general funds and increase federal fund ceiling by $102,200 for the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.
• Adding $17 million in general funds for insurance.
• Adding $2.5 million for Microsoft G5 licenses.

Department of Attorney General

• Adding $2,456,750 for Career Criminal and Victim Witness Assistance programs.
• Adding 4 positions and $462,134 for the Hawaiʻi Correctional System Oversight Commission.
• Adding 4 positions and $336,800 for the Civil Recoveries Division.
• Adding 5 positions and $525,796 for the Criminal Justice Division.
• Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism
• Adding $5 million for high pressure processing equipment.
• Adding $250,000 to continue the Office of International Affairs.
• Adding 30 positions and $63 million for the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.
• Increasing special fund ceiling by $34 million for the Hawaiʻi Convention Center.
• Adding $6 million for Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation grant programs.
• Adding $6 million for geothermal energy exploration.
• Adding 2 positions and $210,000 for the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority.
• Adding $5 million for supportive housing.
• Adding $25 million to deposit into the Rental Housing Revolving Fund.
• Adding 1 position and $132,126 for a Climate-Resilient Food and Product Innovation Network manager.
• Adding 3 positions and $750,000 for East Kauaʻi Irrigation System maintenance.
• Adding $250,000 for a feed lot proof of concept.

Department of Budget and Finance

• Adding $13,356,628 for broadband access state match.
• Increasing special fund ceiling by $49,730,000 for the Mass Transit Special Fund.
• Adding $240,000 to upgrade senior managerial positions.
• Adding $275,076 for budget analyst position upgrades.
• Adding $126,000 for the procurement of a case management software for the Office of the Public Defender.

Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

• Increase special fund ceiling by $5.88 million for the Kalakaua building rooftop renovations.
• Increase special fund ceiling by $2.5 million for website redesign and call center.
• Increase special fund ceiling by $1.175 million for increase in operating costs.

Department of Defense

• Adding $6,919,624 for Hazard Mitigation and $24.7 million in matching federal funds.
• Adding $1,430,900 for utilities at Joint Base Pearl Harbor, Kauaʻi and Kalaeloa.
• Adding $497,000 for utilities at Hawaiʻi Army National Guard facilities.

Department of Education

• Increasing federal fund ceiling by $130,000 and 2 positions for the Executive Office on Early Learning.
• Adding $10 million for workers’ compensation.
• Adding $14,925,959 for educational assistants and vice principals.
• Adding $6 million for weighted student formula for small and remote school.
• Adding $413,915 for equitable participation in AP courses and exams.
• Adding $12,931,380 for the Weighted Student Formula and English Language Learners.
• Adding $579,450 to enhance middle school education.
• Adding $150,000 for student conferences.
• Adding $63,082 for Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps travel for programs on neighbor islands.
• Adding $1.3 million for health technicians.
• Adding $2.5 million for Career and Technical Education Teacher Differentials.
• Adding $268,260 for Career and Technical Education Seal of Biliteracy.
• Adding $20.99 million for summer learning hubs.
• Adding $1.3 million for speech pathology services.
• Adding $2,476,720 for workforce readiness.
• Adding $400,000 for professional development for trauma-informed care.
• Adding $500,000 for professional development for computer science.
• Adding $1.7 million for social-emotional surveys and mobile applications.
• Adding $750,000 for environmental services.
• Adding $3.25 million for contract service increases.
• Adding $15 million for electricity.
• Adding $18 million for food services.
• Adding $18,266,346 for bus contracts.
• Adding $5 million for safety and security.

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

• Adding $808,204 for 6 Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act positions.

Department of Human Services

• Adding $260,000 for utilities at the Hawaiʻi Youth Correctional Facility.
• Adding $15.525 million for Medicaid Home and Community Based Service contract increases.
• Adding $1.5 million for rent supplement program.
• Adding $1.32 million for Homeless Programs Office contract increases.
• Adding $10.5 for Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority repair and maintenance.
• Adding $611,850 for post-adoption support services.
• Adding $6.5 million for Applied Behavioral Analysis Medicaid payments for children with autism.
• Adding $3 million for mobile treatment clinics in ʻOhana Zones.
• Adding $1 million for youth mental health services.

Department of Human Resources Development

• Adding 7 positions and $872,112 for increased recruitment efforts.
• Adding $50,000 for employee training.

Department of Health

• Adding $122,556 for 2 positions for Kalaupapa.
• Adding $8.88 million for new and existing group home services.
• Adding $6.8 million for psychiatric in-patient services.
• Adding $2,150,665 and 4 positions to implement upgraded safety and security measures at the Hawaiʻi State Hospital.
• Adding $6,657,400 for the ʻIwilei behavioral health crisis center and supportive housing services.
• Adding $18.8 million for contracts for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division.
• Adding $4,212,751 for emergency medical services statewide.
• Adding $17.4 million for Maui Health Systems.
• Adding $2.5 million for general administration.
• Adding $1 million for electricity at the State Laboratory.
• Adding $230,000 for the digitization of health records.
• Adding $100,000 for an Early Intervention Working Group for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
• Adding $2 million for a 2-year Rural Medical Air Transport pilot project.
• Adding $200,000 for language interpreter certification classes.

Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

• Increasing ceiling by $2.2 million for unemployment insurance.
• Increasing ceiling by $300,000 for Labor Law Enforcement Special Fund​.
• Transferring 7 positions and $6,983,896 from the Workforce Development Division to the Workforce Development Council​.
• Changing means of financing from federal to general funds for 4 employment service specialists for the Hele Imua Internship Program.
• Transferring 7 positions and $695,201 from various programs to re-establish the Research and Statistics Office.
• Increasing ceiling by $200,000 for veteran career counseling.

Department of Land and Natural Resources

• Adding $5.85 million for forest and resource management.
• Increasing special fund ceiling by $800,000 for sport fishing.
• Increasing special fund ceiling by a total of $12 million for state parks.
• Adding $1.5 million for Act 90 land transfers.
• Adding $475,000 for maintenance and operation of wells.
• Adding 3 positions and $750,000 for the Red Hill Water Alliance Initiative.
• Adding $451,732 for the department’s administrative office.
• Adding 7 positions and $647,296 for the department’s human resources office.

Department of Law Enforcement

• Increasing interdepartmental transfer fund ceiling by $6,567,591 and 50 positions for security at harbors and airports.
• Adding $1,265,600 for the Illegal Fireworks Taskforce.
• Adding $825,000 for the gun buyback program.
• Adding $1.5 million for Law Enforcement Training Division.

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

• Adding $50,000 for a foster pet program.
• Adding a total of $359,864 for electricity.
• Adding $75,000 for water and sewer.

Department of Taxation

• Adding $126,192 for 1 senior software developer.
• Adding $11,800 for the Multi-Factor Authentication System.
• Adding $381,727 for office supplies, subscriptions and license renewals.
• Adding $98,000 for security equipment and vehicle contracts.

Department of Transportation

• Increasing special fund ceiling by $5,345,741 for security at airports.
• Increasing special fund ceiling by a total of $1,221,850 for security at harbors.
• Increasing special fund ceiling by a total of $3.9 million for roadside maintenance.
• Increasing special fund ceiling by $300,000 for Hawaiʻi County police services for state highways.
• Adding $5 million for stored property and debris removal program.

University of Hawaiʻi

• Increasing special fund ceiling by $1,208,020 and 4 positions for campus safety systemwide.
• Adding $510,000 and 6 positions for systemwide mental health services.
• Adding $1,068,821 and 6.5 positions for a nursing collaboration between the Mānoa and West Oʻahu campuses.
• Adding $142,500 and 4 positions for an Education Studies and Indigenous Teacher Education program.
• Adding 4 positions and $925,000 for neighbor island health access and pathway extension.
• Adding 3 positions and $250,528 an incarcerated students’ program.
• Adding $2,874,177 for statewide access master plans.
• Adding $3.7 million for the community college Hawaiʻi Promise program.
• Adding $1 million for wildfire mapping and vulnerability assessments.
• Adding $125,000 for ornamental red ginger research.