CMS has begun rulemaking to raise Medicare outpatient reimbursements for Hawai‘i hospitals, a change senators estimate will bring roughly $17 million a year to the state.

Kaua‘i’s elections office is deploying ballot drop boxes islandwide and mail ballots are due to arrive ahead of the Aug. 8 primary. Drop boxes will be open 24/7 through Election Day at 7 p.m.

Budget committee advanced Bill 47 to cut Honolulu's vehicle‑weight fee; city staff warn the change could cost $20–30M and require costly registration‑system upgrades.

Hawaiʻi Island police say a valid medical cannabis card will no longer automatically block a county firearm permit; federal paperwork still poses obstacles.

Incumbent Rep. Jill Tokuda centers her 2026 campaign on affordability — proposing Social Security fixes, a temporary gas-tax pause and housing rules to rein in big buyers.

State Rep. Mark Hashem won a national award after leading efforts to secure state funding for a new Oʻahu Children’s Justice Center that aims to expand services and open in 2028.

New laws create a Cesspool Conversion Revolving Loan Fund and authorize DLNR co‑management agreements, pairing modest startup funding with new financing tools for homeowners.

A sharp split at OHA erupted after four trustees filed court documents backing ousted CEO Stacy Ferreira, prompting a 5–1 vote to order withdrawal.

Gov. Josh Green signed laws banning most disposable e-cigarettes and creating a state registry of FDA-authorized vaping products.

Seventeen official ballot drop boxes will be stationed across Oʻahu as mail ballots arrive July 21 ahead of the Aug. 8 primary.

Washington Middle principal Michael Harano was placed on paid leave after a DOE audit tied to the $2.5M Line Studio; the union says officials have offered few specifics.

A UH Mānoa pilot to test lower‑cost wastewater systems has been paused after a fund‑release mix‑up, putting more than $500,000 of state money at risk.

Sen. Brian Schatz filed the AI Labeling Act to force visible and machine‑readable labels on AI‑made images, audio, video and chatbots. Backers say it will make deepfakes and voice‑cloning scams easier to spot.