#Legislature

The new Maunakea Stewardship and Oversite Authority is tasked with creating a new management plan to balance the use of land considered sacred by Native Hawaiians and revered as one of the best places in the world for astronomy.

The bills cover a myriad of issues, including raising salaries and pay for benefits of Hawaiʻi’s public employees.

House Bill 57, introduced by state Rep. Chris Todd, and Senate Bill 696, introduced by Sen. Tim Richards, seek to compensate volunteer first responders who are injured or killed in the line of duty with an equivalent pay rate based on years of service and rank rather than a standard rate of pay.

Several new State of Hawai’i laws are set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2023 that relate to areas including tobacco taxes, catalytic converters, ethics training, fireworks, ranked-choice voting and even balloons.

Governor-elect Josh Green today announced nominees to serve as Director and/or Deputy Director for 14 state departments in his cabinet.

Gov. David Ige and leadership from the State Senate and House of Representatives have extended the application deadline for the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority to Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.

The Waimea Community Association will take up several topics during a meeting this week, including updates on the COVID-19 situation around the Big Island and from Community Policing representatives.

The Senate Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts, led by Oʻahu Sen. Brian Taniguchi, is set to hold a legislative hearing on a bill that would raise the minimum wage to $18.00 by 2026.

The 2022 Legislative Session kicked off Wednesday, Jan. 19.

Lawmakers passed a bill that will phase out the use of coal in Hawai‘i by the end of 2022.

The names of disciplined police officers could soon become public record.

The discussion to look into a new location for Hawai‘i Correctional Community Center has moved to the Finance Committee.

Seven Hawai‘i County police officers were either fired or suspended from duty, according to the department’s 2019 legislative annual misconduct report.

The training coincides with the start of the 2020 Legislative Session and aims to teach the public about the most pressing issues facing the state.

State and county leaders and community members gathered in the House Chambers at the State Capitol as Gov. David Ige delivered the 2020 State of the State Address Tuesday morning.

Lawmakers and Gov. David Ige entered the first day of the 2020 legislative session with optimism and big goals.

The Legislature is now accepting applications for State Grants-In-Aid from qualified nonprofit and other organizations for the 2020 legislative session.

State lawmakers approved funding for a range of critical programs that are designed to help in growing and diversifying Hawai’i’s economy.

The session earned a B grade, according to the governor who made mention of issues that still need to be looked at and bills that need to undergo careful consideration.

Bills included in the package address a variety of issues that impact seniors’ health and safety.