#scot matayoshi

Gov. Green signs bills to address youth homelessness and property insurance stability

Gov. Josh Green signed into law today bills to expand resources for young homeless people and those facing homelessness and to stabilize the state’s property insurance market. Both measures respond to what the Governor’s Office calls “a nuanced housing crisis.” The governor’s “administration remains committed to actively reducing barriers to safe, stable, reliable and insurable […]

‘Return-to-Home program’ proposed for homeless people to return to their home states

A bill introduced by 13 representatives in the state House calls for establishing a permanent “Return-to-Home program” with an as yet undetermined amount of funding to return homeless people in Hawaiʻi to their home states.

Working group proposed to study squatting on private property

State lawmakers want a working group to study the problem of people unlawfully occupying private property without the owner’s consent.

Youth advocates rally to ‘take down tobacco’ and end youth vaping epidemic

The Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai‘i Youth Council is supporting several bills that they say would help end the youth vaping epidemic and reduce the toll of tobacco in Hawai‘i. Among these bills is HB 551, which would end the sale of flavored tobacco.

Bill to Require State Departments to Increase Purchase of Locally Grown Produce Advances

Bill would require state departments to buy locally grown produce in gradually increasing percentages. The goal is 50 percent by 2050.