Maui Chamber of Commerce Releases Its 2021 Legislative Priorities

The Maui Chamber of Commerce published its annual legislative priorities packet.  

“Given the many important priorities this year and the state’s estimated $1.7B-$1.8B shortfall, we have pared down our top priorities to five priorities for this legislative session, all of which are urgent and critical to business survival and economic development,” said Maui Chamber President Pamela Tumpap, “however, the booklet continues to educate lawmakers on other crucial issues that need to be kept top of mind as we move through the pandemic to recovery and a brighter future.”

The Chamber’s priorities include: (1) visitor industry support; (2) holding unemployment insurance at Schedule C; (3) reducing business mandates that increase the cost of business like health care and family leave, eliminating unnecessary regulations and streamlining state permitting processes; (4) supporting economic development; and (5) preventing a minimum wage increase during the crisis.  

This year’s booklet also shows the devastation Maui businesses faced during COVID-19.

Maui County went from having the lowest unemployment in the nation to the highest during multiple months in 2020. Further, our county is the most visitor industry dependent county in the State of Hawaiʻi.

The newly released 2021 Maui Chamber Legislative Priorities booklet is available on the Maui Chamber website – www.MauiChamber.com or by clicking the slideshow above.

The Maui Chamber of Commerce encourages all who read this publication to review it in its entirety to understand the data that drives our recommendations and to call (808) 244-0081 or email legislation@mauichamber.com if you have any comments or questions.