#House speaker

With Opening Day just days away, House Speaker Nadine K. Nakamura, House Majority Leader Sean Quinlan, and House Minority Leader Lauren Matsumoto came together today to announce their bipartisan shared values that the entire House will follow as the 33rd Legislature begins.

“The wildfire in Maui has highlighted these issues for our state, leading to skyrocketing insurance rates for condos, some increasing by as much as 1,000%. With the possibility of similar rate hikes for townhouses, immediate action is required to protect Hawaiʻi homeowners and maintain market stability,” according to the governor’s announcement.

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed House Bill 2526 HD2 SD1, which increases the statutory penalties for repeat offenders who drive without a license or while on a suspended license. Upon a third conviction within five years, the offense would become a Class C felony, carrying a maximum term of five years in prison.

On Saturday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy toured ravaged Lahaina — a place he has visited several times while on family vacations — and was moved by the “sheer devastation.”

The portrait of the late Congresswoman from Hawaiʻi, Patsy Mink, was unveiled today in the US Capitol during a ceremony to celebrate her legendary life and the 50th anniversary of her trailblazing legislation, Title IX.

House Speaker Scott Saiki has introduced a constitutional amendment proposing that the Board of Education have concurrent real property tax authority to fund teacher compensation.

Governor David Ige today sent a letter to the Senate President and House Speaker, calling on lawmakers to revive a controversial water holdover bill.

Speaker Saiki spoke of the increasingly difficult time residents have in making ends meet and the divide between those with and without resources.

Maui’s Justin H. Woodson has secured a house leadership role as one of nine majority whips.  He was also identified as chair of the House Committee on Education under a list released today by House Speaker Scott Saiki.

Souki cited some disappointments this session including: failure to pass Compassionate Aid in Dying bill; immunity for lifeguards bill; and funding for rail.

The house budget includes $9 million for flood damage reconstruction at the ʻĪao Valley State Monument on Maui.

House Bill 995 seeks an appropriation of funds for Hale Makua Health Services to admit more wait-listed patients from the Maui hospital into their care.

A bill was introduced at the state legislature that if passed, would repeal penalties for consensual adult prostitution and promotion of prostitution in Hawaiʻi

The Hawaiʻi House of Representatives Majority Caucus reaffirmed Representative Joseph M. Souki of Maui as Speaker for the 2017 legislative session.

State House Speaker Calvin Say announced today that he would not call for a special session to override Governor Linda Lingle’s vetoes.  On June 21, 2010, the Governor released to the Legislature a list of 39 bills that were intended for veto.  The list included bills on public safety, civil unions, homelessness, and education. The […]

By Wendy Osher The state legislature did not vote before Friday’s deadline on a proposal to take the county’s share of the Transient accommodation tax or TAT.  Now it’s a wait and see situation as county mayors across the state monitor the latest developments. “We’re not out of the woods quite yet,” said Maui Mayor […]

(Posted by Wendy Osher; Supporting information courtesy Office of Rep. Mele Carroll) After a weekend visit to the island of Lanai, House Speaker Calvin Say is recommending that the reorganization of the Eligibility Processing Operations Division occur only on Oahu where access to services is not as limited, and not the neighbor islands.  The state […]

U.S. Congressman Neil Abercrombie will leave his post in Washington on February 28th to focus on his run for Hawaii governor.  The 71-year-old lawmaker is resigning after serving 19 years in Congress.  He said the departure date will enable state elections officials to plan for a timely and cost-effective special election for his First Congressional […]