State Legislature

Hawaiʻi lawmakers passed the state budget Wednesday that includes $30 million to hire a developer to build a new jail to replace the deteriorating and overpopulated Oʻahu Community Correctional Center.

Senate Bill 657 proposed the creation of a climate data hub within the University of Hawaiʻi’s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, using $2 million in state funds to support the work of fifteen researchers affiliated with the Coastal Research Collaborative.

Dozens of food and agriculture bills that could affect farmers, ranchers, consumers and more were set to be heard in conference hearings at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol last week. HPR's Mark Ladao has more.

A measure advancing in the state Legislature aims to set a new target to significantly reduce Hawaiʻi's total energy usage by 2045.

While lawmakers are considering many bills ahead of the end of the 2025 session on Friday, here at Hawaiʻi Public Radio, we’ve narrowed down the topics to the top four we’re paying close attention to.

State lawmakers are moving bills that aim to punish and deter the use of illegal fireworks. A pair of fireworks measures passed through conference hearings last week, among the final hurdles for bills going through the state legislative process.

Senate Bill 1186, which passed the conference committee process this week, seeks to create a “statewide interagency food systems coordination team” that would include leaders along the food supply chain — from farms to restaurants.

Online sports betting will not be legalized this legislative session. Lawmakers decided to defer the measure Friday afternoon. The bill would have allowed online sports betting and taxed it at a 10% rate.

More Hawaiʻi families may soon be eligible for free school meals. A bill passed Thursday would allow students who qualify for reduced-priced meals to get them for free starting in July.

A measure that would ban the purchase of assault rifles is heading to a final vote in the state Legislature. If it passes, Hawaiʻi would become the 11th state to adopt this type of ban.