Focused on thriving: State House Majority unveils its 2025 bill package

Members of the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives Majority Caucus, comprised of 42 Democrats, recently presented their 7-bill package that focuses on the caucus’ priorities for the 2025 legislative session.

“As we begin the 33rd Legislature, our focus remains on tackling the cost of living and improving the quality of life for Hawaiʻi’s residents,” said House Majority Leader Rep. Sean Quinlan of Oʻahu. “Local families deserve to not only live in Hawaiʻi but thrive here.”

Measures the majority is championing covers critical issues the state faces such as housing, homelessness, agriculture and biosecurity, economic development and public safety.

Bills in the House Majority legislative package are:

House Bill 432: Relating to the Rental Housing Revolving Fund

This measure would establish a mixed-income subaccount within the Rental Housing Revolving Fund targeting workforce rental housing projects for individuals and families with incomes at or below 140% of the area median income.

It would also authorize the director offinance to transfer funds from the Rental Housing Revolving Fund into the mixed-income subaccount while appropriating funds into and out of the mixed-income subaccount.

“Traditional state and federal subsidies are targeted exclusively towards those with very low incomes. This leaves most working families in Hawai‘i making too much to qualify for subsidized housing and too little to purchase market rate housing,” said House Committee on Housing Chairman Rep. Luke A. Evslin of Kaua‘i. “While it’s vital that we continue to support housing for very low-income families in Hawai’i, we need to expand our financial support to a broader range of incomes, such as teachers, first responders and medical workers.”

Evslin is proud of the House’s support for workforce housing projects with the creation of a mixed-income subaccount and a $150 million infusion of capital.

“This will ensure that we have a dedicated source of funding for workforce housing,” he said.

House Bill 427: Relating to biosecurity

HB 427 would rename the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture to the “Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity” and the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture to the “Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity.”

It would also establish and appropriate funds for a deputy director of biosecurity, change references to the plant and animal declaration form to the “biosecurity form” and authorize and specify conditions when the department could declare a biosecurity emergency, during which the department and governor could take certain actions to prevent the establishment or spread of pests and prohibited or restricted organisms.

The measure would furthermore broaden the objectives and general actions of the biosecurity program, and appropriate funds for positions for the department.

“There is urgency to take proactive measures to protect our borders from invasive species threatening our ʻāina, natural resources and our local lifestyle,” said House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems Chairwoman Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa from the Big Island. “This bill strengthens our biosecurity efforts — our pathways to entry and control of invasive species — so that our native wildlife, communities and economy can thrive.” 

House Bill 428: Relating to farm to families

Here is a piece of legislation that would establish the Hawaiʻi Farm to Families Program, which would alleviate food shortages in the islands.

HB 428 would require reports to the Hawaiʻi Legislature prior to the regular sessions of 2026 and 2027. It also would appropriate funds.

Kahaloa said 1 in 3 Hawaiʻi households faces food insecurity, and the state’s most vulnerable populations need support. This bill highlights the House Majority’s commitment to supporting Hawaiʻi-grown food and providing nutritious options for local families, while empowering Hawaiʻi’s farmers.

“When we invest in local agriculture, we boost our economy, create sustainable opportunities and mālama ʻāina — steward our land to preserve it for future generations,” she said. “By nourishing our keiki and families, we strengthen and uplift our entire community.”

House Bill 429: Relating to early learning

This legislation would appropriate funds to hire teachers and teacher assistants as well as purchase equipment and pay for services for public preschools.

“Investing in our keiki shows our commitment to their future and the well-being of our communities. Making child care affordable eases the cost of living for families,” said House Committee on Education Chairman Rep. Justin Woodson of Maui. “If we can expand access to free public preschool education, we will support working families while preparing our keiki for success.”

House Bill 430: Relating to internships

HB 430 would permit the Hawai‘i Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to contract with eligible employers or registered apprenticeship programs in the private sector to provide on-the-job training to eligible interns.

It also would provide that the state be the responsible employer for purposes of workers’ compensation coverage for students or recent graduates in the on-the-job training program, subject to certain limitations, as well as appropriate funding.

“Expanding the Hele Imua paid internship program will provide students an opportunity to develop their professional skills and interests with local employers,” said House Committee on Labor Chairman Rep. Jackson Sayama of O‘ahu. “As private and public employers struggle with the workforce shortage, especially in key areas of education and health, this bill will support the next generation of local, talented workers.”

House Bill 433: Relating to public safety

This piece of legislation would fund Hawai‘i Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation re-entry services to connect offenders with community-based services.

“With the visible signs of substance abuse, behavioral health and mental health challenges everywhere in our communities — from our streets and parks to our prisons and jails — the House Majority is committed with this administration to investing in rehabilitation and re-entry services to improve the safety of our communities,” said House Committee on Public Safety Chairman Rep. Della Au Belatti of O‘ahu.

House Bill 431: Relating to housing

Another appropriations measure, HB 431 would fund the Kauhale Initiative and establishes the Supportive Housing Special Fund and Kauhale Initiative Special Fund.

The legislation would provide a total of $72 million for chronically homeless and other vulnerable populations such as youth aging out of foster care, victims of domestic violence, people with disabilities or mental illness and people re-entering society after incarceration to be housed, connected with ongoing services and community, either for a temporary hand up or for permanent stability, depending on their needs.

“It creates a new financing tool for Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation … so it can fund targeted projects for residents that need special services or include them in mixed-income rental housing projects,” said House Committee on Human Services and Homelessness Chairwoman Rep. Lisa Marten of O‘ahu.

Visit the Hawai‘i Legislature website to track the status of each of these measures throughout this year’s legislative session.

You can also watch a recording of the Jan. 17 press conference, when the bill package was announced, by visiting the House Majority’s Facebook page.