The State Legislature ended the 2021 session as scheduled on April 29. It faced
substantial difficulties in resolving issues associated with the State budget, but
finally completed it.
However, many community advocates were disappointed in what they considered
to be the Legislature’s inadequate response to many other issues facing Hawaii, such
as climate change, affordable housing, housing security, living wage, agriculture,
food security, public education, homelessness, gun safety, and government
transparency. The outcome of the 2021 legislative session shows that not enough
legislators are truly committed to a long-term vision of a thriving and equitable
Hawaii.
Housing NOW! Task Force
Faith Action’s Housing NOW! task force backed several bills advanced by Senate
Housing Chair Stanley Chang. None passed. Sen. Chang’s comprehensive ALOHA
Homes housing plan is based on Singapore’s success in housing a population six
times Oahu’s on an island less than half Oahu’s size. Chang’s bill would develop tens
of thousands of homes near rail to be sold on State leased land targeted at $300,000
to Hawaii residents who owned no other property and who guarantee they will
occupy the units. The proposal would be financed through revenue bond sales
covered by the purchasers’ monthly mortgage-like payments.
During the 2021 legislative session, ALOHA Homes drew additional support from a
State-subsidized study completed by the nonprofit Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law
& Economic Justice. It found that both Vienna and Helsinki — with high-cost
construction like Honolulu driven by strong unions — could build housing at the
ALOHA Homes target price. The study also recommended financing needed housing
infrastructure via “Community Facilities Districts.” Nevertheless, the State House of
Representatives showed little interest in either ALOHA Homes or in several bills
containing ALOHA Homes concepts that Sen. Chang sent their way.
The Housing NOW! task force continued Faith Action’s legislative effort to have Real
Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) taxed. Here, it achieved some success. While the
major bill that would have taxed REITs died, the Legislature did pass HB 286,
which forces REITs to declare their Hawaii-based revenue. Bill passage means we
will finally document how much in total corporate taxes REITs would pay.
The Housing NOW! task force was less successful with SB 33, which would have
required each county to estimate its housing need, develop a plan to meet that need,
and identify sites for the needed housing. The bill embraced a community planning
concept that the task force will pursue with the Honolulu City Council in the coming
months.
Environmental Justice Task Force
The Environmental Justice Task Force sponsored a carbon fee and dividend bill that
they called “Carbon Cashback.” This bill would have put a price on fossil fuels and
distributed all the revenue generated to Hawaii’s residents in equal shares.
Unfortunately, the bill died before a UH study was issued, which showed that this
concept would substantially reduce Hawaii’s greenhouse gas emissions, while giving
financial benefits to low- and middle-income households.
After that bill died the task force supported several bills and a resolution SCR 44,
which declares a climate emergency in Hawaii. The resolution was passed, making
Hawaii the first state to declare a climate emergency. At a press conference
announcing the passage of this measure, advocates emphasized the necessity of
follow-up with concrete action to reduce fossil fuel emissions.
HB 1142 is another bill passed by the Legislature that addresses climate change. It
creates a funding mechanism for the installation of electric vehicle charging systems
in order to encourage people to purchase electric vehicles. The electric utilities in
Hawaii are still using fossil fuels to generate electricity, but renewable energy is
steadily replacing those fossil fuels.
Long Term Care Task Force
The Long-Term Care Task Force was part of a coalition supporting SB 838, which
would provide greater flexibility in the implementation of the Kupuna Caregivers
Act. The bill did not pass.
Living Wage Task Force took a pause this session, but will pursue this issue next
year.
Final words
Faith Action realizes that very few bills get passed in their first legislative session. It
usually takes years, and that is why advocates must be persistent if they hope to
ultimately be successful. Faith Action looks forward to the 2022 legislative session
and is already making plans for it.
Meanwhile, even the bills which passed the Legislature will not become law until
signed by the Governor. So stay tuned.
Comments