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.
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Have a legislative tip or story idea for Hawaiʻi Public Radio? Contact us at news@hawaiipublicradio.org.
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Sophia McCullough/HPRThe House Public Safety Committee urged the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management to better identify where people should go in the case of a higher category hurricane. -
Hawaii State Judiciary/FacebookA group of residents sued the state over Gov. Josh Green's emergency proclamations on affordable housing. The first was issued over two years ago, and it continues to be renewed.
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A lawsuit challenges Hawaiʻi's new tourist tax on cruise ship passengers, claiming it is unconstitutional. Gov. Josh Green signed the legislation in May. It boosts taxes to address climate change issues like eroding shorelines and wildfires. Starting next year, an 11% tax will be levied on cruise ship bills. -
States like California and New York are considering state laws that could put guardrails on immigration enforcement. HPR's Ashley Mizuo reports on calls for similar action in Hawaiʻi. -
Corey Rosenlee is running for the state House of Representatives in 2026. He is the Democratic candidate for District 39, which covers parts of Leeward Oʻahu like Royal Kunia, Village Park, Honouliuli, Hoʻopili and a portion of Waipahu. -
U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll sent a letter to Gov. Josh Green on Thursday morning, recapping a face-to-face meeting earlier this month. The military land leases, as well as the new Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority board, were among the issues covered in a conversation with the governor. -
The state gets about $4 million in federal Community Services Block Grants a year to spend on programs to help low-income individuals. But Office of Community Services Director Ray Domingo told lawmakers it’s not clear if the state will continue to receive those funds.
