HPR's coverage of the Hawaiʻi legislative session
Hawaiʻi Public Radio is tracking the latest news inside the Hawaiʻi State Capitol as lawmakers work throughout the 2026 legislative session from Jan. 21 to May 8.
Hawaiʻi's Legislature operates on a biennial (two-year) system. 2025 was the first year of the upcoming biennium. Bills that did not pass in 2025 can be revived this year at the same legislative stage.
Keep checking this page to 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.
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DLNRA bill at the state Legislature would create a program supporting the production of virus- and pest-free plants to potentially reduce the spread of invasive species and diseases. -
Hawaiʻi House of RepresentativesProtecting domestic abuse survivors, preventing human trafficking and safeguarding reproductive care are the focus of the bipartisan Women’s Legislative Caucus this session.
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Senate President Ron Kouchi of Kauaʻi spoke to The Conversation's Catherine Cruz about Gov. Josh Green's State of the State address and the 2026 legislative session. -
Gov. Josh Green is proposing a pause to the historic income tax cut that was implemented last year. The pause is expected to bring back $1.8 billion in tax revenue. -
Gov. Josh Green delivered his fourth State of the State address to the Hawaiʻi State Legislature on Monday morning. HPR's Bill Dorman has listened to each of Green's annual addresses. Here's what HPR is taking away from this year's address. -
A resolution introduced at the Hawaiʻi County Council urges state lawmakers to ban all harvesting of fish for commercial aquariums. -
HPR's Cassie Ordonio reports on the legislative priorities state lawmakers will focus on for the 2026 Legislature. -
Gov. Josh Green delivered his 2026 State of the State address to the Hawaiʻi State Legislature on Monday morning. Here's the full speech, as written before the address. -
On Friday, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem approved Hawaiʻi’s request to extend FEMA temporary housing assistance for Maui wildfire survivors until February 2027. -
Department of Law Enforcement Director Mike Lambert roughly estimated that about $400 million a year is spent at illegal game rooms in Hawaiʻi.
