The following are state and county testimonies submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii in the latter half of February 2026.
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STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
>> HB1611 HD1 — “Give residents a break, waive GE tax on groceries, OTC medication“
>> HB1620 HD1 — “Proposed barrel tax hike would increase already high cost of living“
>> HB1671 HD1 — “Allow dental hygienists to expand scope of practice under guidance“
>> HB1721 HD1 — “Clarify professional liability for permit self-certification“
>> HB1737 HD1 — “Remove barriers to building housing for workers on farms and ranches“
>> HB1738 HD1 — “Counties should have more authority to designate urban land for housing“
>> HB1739 HD1 — “Loosen density restrictions in county transit-oriented development areas“
>> HB1741 HD1 — “Affordable housing mandates drive up home prices, reduce inventory” and “Inclusionary zoning mandates fail to create more affordable housing“
>> HB1742 HD1 — “Establish regulations and permitting rules for mobile homes“
>> HB1742 HD2 — “Consider allowing mobile homes to help bridge housing gaps“
>> HB1743 — “Remove time restriction on leasing of owner-built houses“
>> HB1823 HD1 — “Waive SMA use permit rule for county infrastructure improvements“
>> HB1844 HD1 — “LUC should automatically approve county urban redistricting plans“
>> HB1845 HD1 — “Reduce required votes for LUC boundary amendments“
>> HB1882 — “End burdensome safety inspections for motorcycles and passenger cars“
>> HB1919 HD1 — “Prevent counties from imposing parking rules for certain projects“
>> HB1919 HD2 — “Prohibit counties from imposing costly parking mandates“
>> HB1984 — “Establish self-certification process for solar permits, fix flood-zone rules“
>> HB2147 HD1 — “State should not be given power to collect property taxes“
>> HB2197 — “Establish process for removing squatters from properties“
>> HB2325 HD1 — “Remove civil service requirements for hard to fill DLNR positions“
>> HB2360 HD1 — “Negative effects of paid-leave programs need more scrutiny” and “Paid leave programs seem helpful, data shows otherwise“
>> HB2378 — “Compensation for student athletes should not rely on tax dollars“
>> HB2385 HD1 — “Make it easier for ‘seagliders’ to operate in Hawaii“
>> HB2384 HD1 — “Compensation for student athletes should not rely on tax dollars“
>> HB2384 HD2 — “UH student-athlete compensation should not be funded by taxpayers“
>> HB2385 HD1 — “Waive GE tax for construction work on incentivized affordable housing“
>> HB2581 HD1 — “Define ’emergency’ and ‘disaster’ in state law to provide clarity“
>> HB2585 HD1 — “Establish statewide standards for agricultural tourism activities“
STATE SENATE
>> SB2006 SD1 — “Let farmers and ranchers provide housing on location for workers“
>> SB2007 — “Give counties more authority over DBAs for certain housing projects“
>> SB2151 SD1 — “Governor should not suspend public records requests during emergencies“
>> SB2356 SD1 — “Eliminate county parking mandates in TOD zones“
>> SB2362 — “Repeal of REIT deductions could reduce housing production“
>> SB2400 — “Give ‘seagliders’ a chance to fly in Hawaii“
>> SB2423 — “Allow smaller lot sizes to reduce land costs for housing“
>> SB2876 — “Lift irrelevant licensing requirements for natural hair braiders” and “License should not be required to practice natural hair braiding“
>> SB2935 — “State should stop taxing groceries, nonprescription medication“
>> SB2981 — “Exempt new housing in urban areas from costly parking mandates“
>> SB3028 — “Increasing transfer tax could harm economy, housing market“
>> SB3028 SD1 — “Conveyance tax hike could hamper affordable housing initiatives“
>> SB3105 — “Make it easier for PAs to work in Hawaii by joining compact“
>> SB3139 SD1 — “Reform CON laws to improve healthcare access“
>> SB3180 SD1 — “Reallocate tax dollars tied up in years-long state job vacancies“
>> SB3302 SD1 — “Hold farm and home cottage food kitchens to equivalent standards“
HAWAI‘I COUNTY COUNCIL
>> Bill 63, Draft 3 (2025) — “Allow more homebuilding in mixed-use zones to meet housing needs“
HONOLULU CHARTER COMMISSION
>> P051 — “Require six Council votes to reverse HHFDC affordable housing approvals“
>> P059 — “Allow existing homeowners in nonresidential zones to make repairs“
>> P064 — “Reform variance request process“
>> P240 — “Allow multiple zoning appeal boards to reduce wait times“
HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL
>> Bill 6 (2026), CD1 — “Modify apartment floor-area ratio to create more housing options“
>> Bill 18 (2026) — “Amend Bill 18 to maximize benefits of Bill 7 affordable housing program“
LĀNA‘I PLANNING COMMISSION
>> Item A(2) — “Extend allowance of two ADUs to Lanai and Molokai residents“
MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL
>> Bill 183 (2025) — “Let Lahaina’s burned structures be rebuilt to previous heights“









