HPR's coverage of the 2024 Hawaiʻi legislative session
Hawaiʻi Public Radio is tracking the latest news inside the Hawaiʻi State Capitol as bills approved in regular session, which ran from Jan. 17 to May 3, go to the governor's desk for decision-making.
If Gov. Josh Green intends to veto a bill, he must inform the Legislature of his plan by June 25. Green has until July 10 to sign a bill into law, let a bill pass without his signature, or deliver a veto.
The Legislature can override a veto in special session by a two-thirds vote in each chamber.
At the start of the session, lawmakers warned they would face tough decisions focusing on Maui's recovery and balancing core government functions.
In the end, they provided funding for Maui, approved more regulations for short-term rentals, cut income taxes and invested in biosecurity measures.
On this page, you'll also find interviews from HPR's The Conversation with state lawmakers, appointed officials and elected leaders.
Have a legislative tip or story idea for Hawaiʻi Public Radio? Contact us at news@hawaiipublicradio.org.
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Office of Gov. Josh GreenStarting in 2026, doctors will no longer have to pay the state’s general excise tax on health care for patients on Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare. It’s a major win for medical professionals who have had to pay a 4% tax to care for those on government health plans.
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Office of Gov. Josh GreenThe law eliminates the state’s lowest tax brackets and lowers the rates for all tax brackets. The cuts will take place in phases over a seven-year period and will cost the state $1.3 billion in yearly revenue.
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A bill cracking down on predators working in Hawai‘i schools awaits Gov. Josh Green's signature, according to a Friday news release.
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Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara will resign as state adjutant general in October. He is also the commander of the National Guard and the head of the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency.
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A “bad actor” accused of giving away plants infested with little fire ants has had its name cleared by the state Department of Agriculture — but that's done little to satisfy concerns that the department isn’t doing enough to stop invasive species. Meanwhile, the business is trying to recover from the hit to its reputation. HPR's Mark Ladao has more.
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Alaska Airlines is offering more than 3,000 free flights to those impacted by the Maui fires last August. The Maui CARE Flights program is a collaboration between the airline, Gov. Josh Green, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.
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Hawaiʻi's attorney general says a court has ordered the manufacturers and distributors of the blood thinner Plavix to pay the state a combined $916 million after finding the companies failed to disclose the efficacy and safety of the medication.
