Lawmakers share priorities: Next session of the state Legislature convenes this week

State lawmakers who represent the Big Island plan to address affordable housing, Hilo Medical Center’s expansion, a Banyan Drive revitalization, the General Excise Tax, marijuana and other topics during the legislative session that starts Wednesday.

Gov. Josh Green campaigned on eliminating the GET on food and medicine and legalizing recreational marijuana, but Senate President Ron Kouchi and House Speaker Scott Saiki are pushing back on his agenda.

“I did suggest to (Green) that he not be too decisive,” Saiki said recently during a livestream with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “Sometimes, you have to take a step back.”

Kouchi also expressed concerns over Green’s Cabinet nominees.

“There are a few, 25% or a third, that I don’t even know,” Kouchi said during the same livestream. “For most of the people I’ve talked to, I’m not ready to commit my support.”

Republican presence in the Legislature has expanded, growing from four to six House seats and doubling Senate seats from one to two.

Some legislators are embracing the change in members, while others are skeptical.

“There’s going to be a getting-to-know-you period,” said Saiki. “We will have at least 16 new House members joining us, and these members are a diverse group of people from all over the state who have different perspectives, backgrounds and philosophies.”

Hilo Sen. Lorraine Inouye of District 1 has concerns about some of the new members.

“Quite a few are not born in Hawaii or have been born here without the historical background of the islands,” she said. “My hope is that the new generation will understand that the people come first living in our state.”

Big Island goals

Inouye plans to pick up where she left off in 2008 by completing an environmental impact statement for the Puainako Street expansion, which would widen the road from Daniel K. Inouye Highway past Waiakea Elementary.

“At this point in time, with the population increase, something has to be done,” she said.

She also hopes to finish the Hilo High School gym by building a parking garage, with the gym doubling as an evacuation center.

Hilo Rep. Chris Todd of District 3 wants to revitalize Banyan Drive by establishing a redevelopment authority and conducting a community-led master plan.

“We would deliver on some of that master plan through capital improvement projects, potential changes in the long-term management, as well as reinvesting some of the lease revenue generated by Banyan Drive back into the area,” he said.

He’s also pushing for legislation allowing small farms in the state agriculture program to apply for lease extensions.

“Over 90% of the lessees in East Hawaii will have their leases expire in a seven-year window,” he said. “You could potentially see close to 100 farms cease to exist.”

Lease extensions were vetoed by former Gov. Ige last session, who said the program was not intended for long-term agreements. But Todd noted Gov. Green and Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke met with lessees, and he was “under the impression that they are on board.”

Hamakua Rep. Mark Nakashima of District 1 said his top priorities are funding Hilo Medical Center’s expansion, assisting hunters, and creating affordable housing.

Puna Sen. Joy San Buenaventura of District 2 also favored affordable housing in addition to improving health care.

“We cannot affect a dent in the chronic homeless population unless we do something about affordable housing and behavioral health,” she said.

GET reform

Kouchi and Saiki favored tax credits over any GET exemptions.

“The GET generates the most state tax revenue for us,” Saiki said, adding visitors account for around 30% of its revenue. “I don’t believe that we should enact a broad-based tax cut that disproportionately benefits visitors and high-end tax payers.”

Kouchi addressed the budget surplus, but cautioned about any changes.

“We have a $2.6 billion surplus,” he said. “But the primary reason for that is the influx of federal money (because of the COVID-19 pandemic) that won’t be there.”

Green is weighing a compromise, telling Hawaii News Now recently that he plans to propose a bill eliminating the GET on food and medicine, but is willing to focus on low-income residents.

“We’re talking about people who are making less than $60,000,” Green said.

Inouye opted for an across-the-board approach.

“There are still many of us in the middle class that need assistance,” she said. “What’s good for those that are less fortunate when it comes to food and prescriptions is good for everyone.”

Nakashima thought tax credits would be easier to pass than all-encompassing adjustments to the GET, and Todd agreed.

“There are carve-outs like the food tax credit, the dependent care tax credit, child care tax credit,” said Todd. “Let’s attack this in a number of different ways and see where we end up.”

Marijuana

The House and Senate appear split on legalizing adult-use recreational marijuana.

The Senate voted for legalization last year, but the measure died in the House, leading to a task force and a new report to debut this session.

“I’m pragmatic,” said Kouchi. “But when you look at what the net revenue winds up being when you take out all the administrative costs involved, it may not be the revenue-generating mechanism it’s being advertised as.”

Todd favored legalization to avoid any future federal conflicts.

“My preference is we establish a regulatory structure now, prior to any federal legalization,” he said. “I do believe that this is somewhat inevitable.”

Kona and Ka‘u Rep. Jeanne Kapela of District 5 released a statement favoring legalization of recreational marijuana from an equity perspective.

“By legalizing cannabis, we can build an industry that diversifies our economy, strengthens our agricultural heritage, and delivers justice to those who have been unjustly criminalized,” she said. “People of color and economically disadvantaged residents are disproportionately harmed by our state’s unwarranted commitment to incarceration.”

Nakashima dealt with legalization last session when he served as chair of the Judiciary Committee, leaving him skeptical of any change.

“I’m not seeing any likely expansion of the law at this point,” he said. “There was quite a bit of resistance.”

San Buenaventura favors legalization, but expressed concern over public safety.

“We’re hoping that science catches up to see how we could stop those who are impaired from driving,” she said. “We really do not need more traffic fatalities.”

Other priorities

The Senate last Wednesday released a list of legislative priorities including housing, education, agriculture, economic development, infrastructure and natural resource management.

“These legislative priority areas reflect the issues and concerns that were brought forth by all 23 members of our caucus during our convening in November,” Senate Majority Leader Dru Mamo Kanuha of District 3, which includes Kona and Ka‘u, said in the release. “By working collaboratively with the Senate minority and the House of Representatives, we will make substantive progress on these important issues.”

Housing goals include addressing the statewide shortage through planned housing projects, prioritizing transit-oriented development, creating workforce housing, and reforming the permitting process to increase development.

“There’s a sizable investment that has been made specifically for public housing,” said Todd, citing $600 million allocated to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands last year. “In addition to that, there are several funds that have been dedicated to rental assistance, to first-time home buyers, to assist developers with providing affordable housing.”

Education goals included addressing the teacher shortage, expanding pre-Kindergarten programs and creating vocational tracks for grades K-12.

Agriculture plans include addressing climate change, invasive species and developing programs like the farm-to-school initiative, while environmental goals include exploring carbon offsets, carbon-capture technology and improving infrastructure for wastewater management.

In response to former Rep. Ty Cullen and former Sen. J. Kalani English accepting bribes in exchange for legislative support last year, the House also has compiled a list of 31 proposals to address government corruption.

“The actions of a few people affected everyone else at the Legislature,” Saiki said. “We will hold public hearings on those proposals, and I think there’s a range of initiatives that we will consider.”

Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com.