HPR's coverage of the Hawaiʻi legislative session
Hawaiʻi Public Radio tracked the latest news inside the Hawaiʻi State Capitol as lawmakers worked throughout the 2025 legislative session from Jan. 15 to May 2.
Hawaiʻi's Legislature operates on a biennial (two-year) system. 2025 is the first year of the upcoming biennium. Bills that did not pass in 2025 can be revived in 2026 at the same legislative stage.
On this page, you'll also find interviews from HPR's The Conversation with state lawmakers, appointed officials, and leaders such as Gov. Josh Green, Senate President Ron Kouchi and House Speaker Nadine Nakamura.
Want more legislative coverage straight to your email? Subscribe to our weekday news newsletter, Akamai Recap, using the form below or by clicking here.
Have a legislative tip or story idea for Hawaiʻi Public Radio? Contact us at news@hawaiipublicradio.org.
-
Catholic Charities Housing Development CorporationHave you ever wondered how the state determines which affordable housing projects get state and federal funding? HPR's Ashley Mizuo reports on the process and some changes under consideration. -
Allison Dinner/APFamilies get a one-time benefit of $177 per eligible child for the summer if they are approved for SUN Bucks. The funds expire 122 days after families receive them.
-
Gov. Josh Green gives us an update on the effort to reconstitute the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority board and discusses low vaccination rates among students returning to the classroom in a few weeks. -
Gov. Josh Green appointed him to the position on Wednesday. Saiki started at the insurance division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs last year after losing his House seat to current Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto. -
In a bill-signing ceremony Wednesday, Gov. Josh Green enacted a reform to the state's Contractor Repair Act, which gives contractors and property owners the option to fix building issues without lawsuits. -
Gov. Josh Green signed a measure Wednesday to provide additional funding to nonprofits impacted by federal cuts. But HPR's Ashley Mizuo reports some are raising constitutional issues about the new law. -
The State of Hawaiʻi will contribute $807.5 million to the $4.037 billion global settlement for Maui wildfire victims. The state will pay roughly $200 million annually for the next four years into the total fund.
