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Departure of House Speaker Scott Saiki Will Test Lawmakers’ Appetite For Reform David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Departure of House Speaker Scott Saiki Will Test Lawmakers’ Appetite For Reform

Kim Coco Iwamoto has an ambitious plan to try to reorganize the House, but her future colleagues are moving ahead with plans of their own.

State Rep. Mark Nakashima Dead At 61 Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

State Rep. Mark Nakashima Dead At 61

Hawaii’s governor has ordered flags lowered to honor the House Democrat.

Gov. Josh Green Gives Final Approval To Income Tax Break He Hopes Will Make Hawaii Affordable David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Gov. Josh Green Gives Final Approval To Income Tax Break He Hopes Will Make Hawaii Affordable

But others worry the tax cut, which will cost the state billions of dollars, will mean deep cuts to needed state programs.

A Working Group That Emerged From A Tragedy Sets Out To Reform Child Welfare Services David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

A Working Group That Emerged From A Tragedy Sets Out To Reform Child Welfare Services

After the disappearance of Isabella Kalua, lawmakers formed the Malama Ohana Working Group to design and propose ‘transformative changes’ to the state system.

Hawaii Ethics Commission Grapples With Pay-To-Play Issues Chad Blair/Civil Beat/2024

Hawaii Ethics Commission Grapples With Pay-To-Play Issues

The commission acknowledged that it’s tough to oversee lawmakers who resist most accountability measures.

Hawaii Lawmakers Had Big Ideas For How To Prevent Another Lahaina. Few Became Law Courtesy: DLNR

Hawaii Lawmakers Had Big Ideas For How To Prevent Another Lahaina. Few Became Law

A House working group found a long list of things Hawaii needs to do to protect itself from fire, but many of those recommendations will fall to the new state fire marshal to implement.

Lawmakers Want State To Make Public The Names Of Companies That Sell Infested Plants Screenshot/2023

Lawmakers Want State To Make Public The Names Of Companies That Sell Infested Plants

The agriculture department will likely receive $20 million for biosecurity this year. Lawmakers want results.

Lawmakers Give Final Approval To A ‘Historic’ Income Tax Cut In Long Day Of Voting David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Lawmakers Give Final Approval To A ‘Historic’ Income Tax Cut In Long Day Of Voting

The tax bill along with nearly 200 other measures now go to Gov. Josh Green for his consideration.

Hawaii Senate President Ron Kouchi’s Ties To A Convicted Businessman Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

Hawaii Senate President Ron Kouchi’s Ties To A Convicted Businessman

Milton Choy recorded meetings with Kouchi as part of an FBI investigation but there’s been no evidence revealed that the senator committed any wrongdoing.