Policy Highlights from the 2025 Hawaiʻi State Legislative Session

When it comes to effecting positive change in the world around us, one of the most powerful tools at our disposal is the democratic and legislative process for creating and amending laws. All of us have a role to play in shaping the kind of society we would like to live in.

Here at HCF, we engage in policy advocacy to more effectively pursue our mission and achieve our vision of an equitable and vibrant Hawai‘i in which all communities thrive. Advocating for equity is a core part of our mission, and we believe policy engagement in many different forms leads to better decision-making and wider availability of resources.

For us, policy advocacy can include: submitting legislative testimony, meeting with legislators, commissioning informative polls and reports, participating in coalitions, or bringing public awareness to an issue through a timely op-ed.

By working together, we believe we can address systemic inequities through policy and advocacy wins.

On May 2, the Hawai‘i state legislature completed its 2025 session. Together, the Senate and House of Representatives considered 3,172 bills and 886 resolutions. 322 total bills passed both chambers (10 percent) and 304 resolutions were adopted (34 percent). Governor Josh Green’s review of the bills is under way and will extend into July 2025, during which time the 322 bills may be signed into law, accepted without signature, or vetoed.

Below, we share with you a recap of some of the session’s wins as well as bills that stalled out.

State Budget Bill and Federal Uncertainty

The most impactful bill every year is the state’s budget bill, House Bill 300. Consistent with the goals of HCF’s House Maui Initiative, the budget included a $5 million allocation for infrastructure to advance priority housing development on Maui. The budget allocations across the board, including the Grant-In-Aid process for the nonprofit sector, were conservatively estimated, likely due to the impact of tariffs and uncertainties around available federal funding, which was originally estimated to be $3.8 billion for the state.

The Legislature will likely reconvene for a Special Session to review the budget once the federal budget is more certain. That session could take place in August, September, or November of this year.

Bills Related to the CHANGE Framework

Consistent with our mission to advocate for equity, HCF’s specific policy efforts focused on the CHANGE Framework across all six sectors. This work involved monitoring and engaging with more than 100 bills.

Here is a sample of bills HCF was actively involved in this session that have now been transmitted to Gov. Josh Green to sign into law:

• With the nonprofit sector facing historic challenges, HCF advocated for Senate Bill 933 to set aside $50 million for organizations that lose federal funding.
• HCF supported Senate Bill 1396 to apply new Transient Accommodations Tax (the “TAT”) revenue to climate resiliency and sustainable tourism.
• HCF submitted testimony in support of Senate Bill 1296. The final version is a compromise position but will reduce some of the bureaucratic processes for Lahaina homeowners trying to rebuild.
• HCF also backed House Bill 237 to create a vital parent-peer support program in Department of Health.

Looking Ahead

As this is the first year of the current two-year biennium cycle, bills that stalled during the 2025 session can be revived next year. For example, the idea to use deed restrictions to increase housing inventory for local families gained strong momentum but did not pass. HCF will explore opportunities for the program at the County level and continue to advocate in the state legislature next year.

HCF will also continue to study House Bill 1378 and its impact on arts and culture organizations and the ability of keiki to kūpuna to access arts programs.

The 2025 legislative session included many positive changes for the people of Hawai‘i, but the real-world impact will be determined over many years. HCF will study these outcomes and hone our policy focus to advance systems change through our advocacy work and by increasing the community’s capacity to do the same.

Read more Stories of Impact