������Ƶ

Could it be love? Maybe. Maybe not.

But now that we’ve seen Gov. Neil Abercrombie‘s just-released intent-to-veto list, it sure seems like he and the Legislature have improved their relationship.

In his third year as governor, he has retained the right to veto the smallest number of bills yet. And the legislation that is on the chopping block hardly seems, at first look, worth writing home about.

Abercrombie notified lawmakers Monday that he intends to veto just nine of the 293 bills they passed. Last year, he had 20 bills on the list and went on to veto 14. In 2011, his potential veto list included 25 bills and he vetoed 17.

The governor has until July 9 to make a final decision, but he can no longer try to stop any of the other bills from becoming law. This means all of the bills that have been lingering in limbo since the legislative session ended May 2 are almost certain to go into effect.

We will only learn what this new slate of laws means for Hawaii in the coming months and years, but here is a little sampling of how this might affect everyone from keiki to kupuna.

There is a bill to protect seniors from financial abuse, and legislation requiring the Department of Health to post the inspection reports of adult care homes online. (With an aging population, the state is trying to be more proactive in protecting its most vulnerable citizens.)

On the education front, a bill to generate money to fix dilapidated public schools by leasing underutilized school lands to private companies will become law. Education officials will be able to see if the concept works by developing up to three properties.

An effort to bring down soaring electric rates while reducing Hawaii’s reliance on oil could get some legs when a progressive goes into effect. The legislation enables low-cost loans so that renters can take advantage of solar water-heating systems, for instance.

There is a to require Hawaii to pay off an increasing share of its multi-billion dollar unfunded liabilities starting next year. That legislation overhauls how the state and counties pay for public worker pension benefits, an issue that has been neglected for years but that could have far-reaching consequences for all residents.

These laws will join 170 other bills that Abercrombie has already signed, the most recent being a .

The governor signed into law Monday morning, establishing a small public preschool program that will begin next year.

The governor got some of the more controversial bills out of the way early. Abercrombie signed a bill allowing the phased review of archaeological sites last month over the objections of . That bill is intended to speed up development projects, including the Honolulu rail project that was stalled when along the route.

The Veto List

But in terms of what the governor does plan to veto, the most significant bill involves lawmakers’ plan to ensure a more democratic process in the elections for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

The Legislature adopted this past session, which would create a primary to in the general election. Historically, there has been a large pool of candidates running, which creates a broad dispersion of votes, not to mention allegations that some people game the system.

For those who want to know what Abercrombie doesn’t like, you can pick through his intent-to-veto list below:

• , relating to the state building code

• , relating to contracts

• , relating to

• , relating to native wildlife

• , relating to timeshare conveyances

• , relating to nursing

• , relating to the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation

• , relating to sentencing

The Legislature has never overridden an Abercrombie veto.

“I greatly respect the legislative process and the work of individual legislators in forming public policy,” Abercrombie said in a statement. “This past session resulted in meaningful measures that will ultimately benefit the people of Hawaii.”

He sounds like a man who has worked on his relationship.