Honolulu

Honolulu Governor Josh Green Signs 313 Bills into Law to Address Hawai‘i's Key Challenges

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Published on July 11, 2025
Honolulu Governor Josh Green Signs 313 Bills into Law to Address Hawai‘i's Key ChallengesSource: Wikipedia/ChelseaLockridge, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Governor Josh Green signed 313 out of 321 bills from the 2025 Hawai‘i State Legislature. Thirteen bill signings focused on laws related to the environment, education, and infrastructure. House Bill 300, now Act 250, sets a two-year state budget of about $39.5 billion, with $10.53 billion in general funds for fiscal year 2026 and a similar amount for 2027. The budget includes a $110 million reduction, according to the Office of the Governor.

Hawai‘i's recent legislative actions included major environmental and educational reforms. Senate Bill 1396 (Act 96) introduced the nation’s first Green Fee, adding a 0.75% increase to the transient accommodation tax to fund climate resilience and environmental programs. Senate Bill 1044 (Act 296) reactivated the Hawaiʻi Hurricane Relief Fund to provide insurance options during market disruptions. In education, Senate Bill 1300 (Act 139) expanded access to free school meals for public school students under the National School Lunch Program, starting in the 2025–26 school year, supported by a $3.3 million fund for the Department of Education, as reported by the Office of the Governor.

House Bill 1483 (Act 243) increases penalties for fireworks violations and includes changes to help reduce the strain on the court system. House Bill 1001 (Act 301) sets up a trust fund to support the $4.037 billion settlement for survivors of the 2023 Maui wildfires. House Bill 1064 (Act 302) establishes a State Fire Marshal position as part of updated fire response efforts. Governor Green said, “This legislative session delivered many important wins, and I’m deeply grateful to the Hawai‘i State Legislature for championing measures that serve our people and protect our ‘āina.” He added, “Together, we will continue to build a stronger, healthier and more sustainable future for all of Hawai‘i,” as mentioned by the Office of the Governor.