Senators advanced two bills this week that would limit corporations from spending to influence Hawaii elections and clarify the powers granted to artificial entities. Lawmakers say the measures protect voters' voices.

The Honolulu City Council advanced a resolution urging state approval of the GEMT Medicaid program to reduce ambulance co‑pays for low‑income residents.

Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez led 40 state attorneys general in a letter urging Congress to back the Senate Kids Online Safety Act and to reject House language that could preempt state protections.

Sen. Brian Schatz filed the FAIR Act proposing a 4.1% federal pay increase in 2027 to help close a roughly 27% pay gap with private-sector jobs.

A DHRD report found hundreds of state jobs vacant for years and lawmakers have filed bills to abolish chronically empty posts. Advocates say the moves could free up millions, but agencies warn of service risks.

National backlash over immigration enforcement has pushed Maui County to reconsider an FBI joint‑task‑force agreement that would deputize local officers. Council members, the police chief and immigrant advocates are locked in a debate over civil liberties and local control.

Senate Judiciary advanced SB2055, a bill that would require the Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission to run a 24‑hour, toll‑free helpline for civil‑rights and hate‑crime reports. The measure now heads to Ways and Means for funding and implementation details.

Hawaiʻi’s county mayors paused a plan to ask lawmakers this year for a 20‑year extension of the half‑percent GET surcharge, saying they need more financial analysis first.

Gabbard’s ODNI took voting machines from Puerto Rico for a forensic review that flagged security gaps but found no clear evidence of Venezuelan hacking. The probe raises questions about intelligence involvement in domestic election systems.

Union leaders told lawmakers construction workers who stayed on jobsites during COVID deserve state help, from $20K payments to tax credits for paid Labor Day.

Sen. Michelle Kidani says she remains capable of serving amid reporting about her health and performance and that she would resign if she can’t fully serve. The development raises questions about committee leadership and who might replace her if she steps down.

A package of state bills would extend living-expense benefits, speed advance payments and change replacement-cost rules — proposals lawmakers say grew out of the Maui wildfire experience.

Lawmakers advanced a bill to tax alcohol by ABV, raising rates and prompting brewers to press for small‑producer carve‑outs as revenues and costs are debated.