Columbus
Don S
Opinion: Could the Governor's Housing Plan Backfire
With the Governor's eagerness to help displaced Lahaina residents from the Maui wildfire, the Governor asked owners of short-term rentals to help by asking them to offer up their short-term housing as housing for the displaced Lahaina residents.
Hawaii: A Tax Increase for Visitors
Balancing the state budget is important to ensure the State keeps running. Here is another bill to help bring money to the State. Hawaii House Bill 2081 is in discussion at the state legislature. There is another hearing for the bill on Friday, February 23, 2024.
Opinion: SB 3256 - Approved News Only
Hawaii lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 3256 to address misinformation and disinformation. With social media and easy access and upload of information to the internet, Hawaii lawmakers felt the need to regulate the information people see online. Here is an excerpt of section one of the bill.
Opinion: Property Tax Increase for Some Homeowners
The largest funded project in the City and County of Honolulu history is the Oahu Rail Transit, Skyline. It is the State of Hawaii's problem. According to Civil Beat, over 17% of the funding to build the Oahu Rail Transit comes from the federal government. Therefore, the remaining cost must come from the state.
Opinion: SB 1008 Will Impact Air Travel
The cost of air travel from Honolulu to LAX, California, is about $460, depending on the time of the year. With increasing jet fuel prices, ticket prices will increase if the Hawaii State legislature passes Senate Bill 1008. Senate Bill 1008 is a carryover bill from 2023.
Opinion: Bill to Increase the Governor's Power
A lawmaker introduced Hawaii Senate Bill 103. The bill relates to emergency powers. On the surface, the bill was innocent and standard, but it goes into detail that might disturb some people. Here is the part of the bill some may question.
Opinion: When Is Lahaina Safe to Return
It’s been six months since the Maui Wildfire in Lahaina. The rebuilding of the city has yet to start. However, House Bill 2903 at the State Legislature is up for discussion. Who decides when it is safe for homeowners to return to their land? The state wants to be in charge of that decision. Here is a summary of Senate Bill 2903.
Senate Bill 2257: You Don't Need a Degree to Be a Teacher
Here is one way to attract new teachers. A lawmaker introduced a bill, Senate Bill 2257, to address the shortage of teachers in the state. Here is a summary of the bill. "Authorizes the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to consider qualified individuals with at least an associate's degree or high school diploma with comparable education and coursework, industry experience, and content expertise to teach career and technical education courses."
Opinion Piece: Election Bill Passed the First Hurdle
The Senate Judiciary Committee recommends that the bill be passed with amendments. Here is the summary of the bill related to elections:. “SECTION 1. The legislature finds that citizens of this State have the right to expect that public servants are people of integrity and not people who have committed actions that threaten democracy or undermine the vote of the people.”
Opinion Piece: Can This State Bill Achieve Its Purpose
According to the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Carbon Dioxide occurs naturally in the atmosphere. "Carbon dioxide is a minor part of the air that humans breathe. It is also a byproduct of our body's metabolism and is subsequently exhaled from the lungs."
Hawaii State Bills That Could Affect Many if Passed in 2024
Hawaii Lawmakers are introducing bills that might interest you. The legislative session is when Hawaii lawmakers get together to figure out how to pay for the services to keep Hawaii running. It’s still February, but Hawaii lawmakers have already introduced a bill to increase the conveyance tax.
Opinion Piece: Hawaii Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Help Renters
Hawaii state lawmakers introduced Hawaii House Bill 2642 on February 2, 2024. It's a partisan bill about tenant eviction because tenants fail to pay for the rent. I have mixed feelings about the bill. After being a homeowner for over 20 years, I am now in a position to be a landlord. Part of my supplementary income is dependent on rental income.
Don S
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I write about politics, restaurants, businesses in Hawaii, comfort foods, and anything that affects Hawaii. I also write about anything I find interesting.
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