Civil Beat Categories

Legislature 2015

Care Home Industry Uses Love Story (Again) to Loosen Hawaii Laws Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Care Home Industry Uses Love Story (Again) to Loosen Hawaii Laws

The perfect poster child was paraded around the Capitol to pressure legislators to change state regulations.

Challenge Over Rep. Say’s Residency Forces House to Make ‘Judgment Call’ Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Challenge Over Rep. Say’s Residency Forces House to Make ‘Judgment Call’

The speaker emeritus faced his colleagues in a quasi-judicial hearing, the first of its kind in Hawaii.

Statewide Preschool Bill Passes Senate Education Committee PF Bentley/Civil Beat

Statewide Preschool Bill Passes Senate Education Committee

Proposal would establish a public preschool program giving priority to low-income children. The estimated price tag is $33 million.

Committee OKs Free Early-College Tuition for Eligible High-Schoolers PF Bentley/Civil Beat

Committee OKs Free Early-College Tuition for Eligible High-Schoolers

Hawaii high school students who qualify academically could get tuition-free dual credit at community colleges if Senate Bill 374 becomes law.

Hawaii House Bill Restricting Aquarium Trade Advances NOAA

Hawaii House Bill Restricting Aquarium Trade Advances

An outright ban was scrapped but a measure tightening regulations has cleared a key committee.

The Projector:  No Shortage of Testimony for Hawaii’s State Lawmakers Cory Lum/Civil Beat

The Projector: No Shortage of Testimony for Hawaii’s State Lawmakers

The legislative session hits its stride as hearings are held on a myriad of issues, including medical marijuana dispensaries, public safety, a possible Health Connector bailout and aquarium fishing.

Honolulu Rail Tax Alive, But Ige Still Has Questions Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Honolulu Rail Tax Alive, But Ige Still Has Questions

Hawaii senators seemed satisfied with the city’s explanation of the project’s nearly $1 billion shortfall and the possible ramifications of halting construction.

Hawaii Governor Supports Buffer Zones for Pesticide Spraying

Hawaii Governor Supports Buffer Zones for Pesticide Spraying

Three Senate committees approved a bill to require large agricultural companies to abide by buffer zones for spraying restricted-use pesticides around schools and other sensitive areas.

Is It Finally Time to Define Dancing in Hawaii? Alana Hong/Civil Beat

Is It Finally Time to Define Dancing in Hawaii?

Lawmakers are trying again this session to address “Footloose” concerns in the islands.

Is Carleton Ching the Man to Protect Hawaii’s Public Lands? Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Is Carleton Ching the Man to Protect Hawaii’s Public Lands?

Important issues are ahead for the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and some of them are likely to involve the company that currently employs the nominee to head the agency.