POLICY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

2026 legislative agenda

The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii's 2026 legislative agenda focuses on key policies that drive economic growth, support workforce development, and strengthen local businesses—aligning with our 2030 Blueprint for Hawaii’s long-term prosperity. These bills prioritize initiatives that enhance business competitiveness, invest in talent pipelines, and foster innovation to ensure a resilient and thriving economy for the future.

Travel & Tourism

SB1299 and HB2211: Requires the HTDC to establish and implement projects to assist small businesses related to the tourism sector with technology enablement. Appropriates funds.

Senate Introducers: DECOITE, FUKUNAGA, KIDANI
House Introducers: QUINLAN

SB3049 and HB2601: Establishes the Trade-Oriented Production Capacity Grant Program within DBEDT to support one-time capital investments that expand the State’s manufacturing and production capacity for trade. Provides grants for equipment, automation, and facility improvements that directly increase output, efficiency, and competitiveness for eligible businesses, with required private-sector matching funds.

Senate Introducer: KANUHA
House Introducers: TAM, AMATO, BELATTI, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, MARTEN, POEPOE, REYES ODA, SHIMIZU, SOUZA, TAKAYAMA

SB3228 SD1 and HB2602 HD2: Establishes the sustainable tourism infrastructure matching grant program within DBEDT to support one-time capital investments that advance measurable sustainability and climate resilience outcomes within the state’s visitor industry.

Senate Introducer: DECOITE
House Introducers: TAM, AMATO, COCHRAN, HUSSEY, KUSCH, LOWEN, MARTEN, PERRUSO, POEPOE, SHIMIZU

Military & Defense

SB3240 SD1 and HB2235 HD2: Appropriates moneys to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism through the Military Affairs Community Relations Office to strengthen intergovernmental coordination for military and defense activities.

Senate Introducers: FUKUNAGA, CHANG
House Introducers: BELATTI, AMATO, KONG, MARTEN, SHIMIZU, TAM

SB3217 and HB2520: Updates the research tax credit rules so businesses can claim credits without considering prior years’ expenses and raises the annual cap on total credits certified by DBEDT.

Senate Introducer: KANUHA

House Introducer: TODD

SB1503 SD1 HD1:Updates the research tax credit rules so businesses can claim credits without considering prior years’ expenses and raises the annual cap on total credits certified by DBEDT.

Senate Introducer: WAKAI

HB1205: Funds the Workforce Development Council to create and implement programs that diversify and expand Hawaii’s defense-related workforce in IT, cybersecurity, intelligence, data science, and advanced manufacturing.

House Introducer: QUINLAN

21st Century Agriculture

SB3258 and HB2595 HD1 SD1: Formulates the Regional Agricultural Feasibility and Food Systems Production Studies Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to coordinate region-specific crop and agricultural production analyses.

Senate Introducers: GABBARD, CHANG, FEVELLA, MCKELVEY, RICHARDS
House Introducers: KUSCH, AMATO, BELATTI, CHUN, HOLT, HUSSEY, KAHALOA, KAPELA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, LOWEN, MARTEN, MIYAKE, OLDS, PERRUSO, POEPOE, REYES ODA, SHIMIZU, TAKENOUCHI, TEMPLO

SB3233 SD1 HD2 and HB2495: Recognizes agricultural workforce housing as a scored public benefit, leveraging existing state authority to address workforce housing constraints through a practical, incentive-based approach.

Senate Introducers: DELA CRUZ, KIDANI
House Introducers: CHUN, ALCOS, COCHRAN, EVSLIN, GARRETT, HARTSFIELD, HOLT, IWAMOTO, KAHALOA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, KUSCH, MARTEN, MATAYOSHI, MIYAKE, MORIKAWA, MURAOKA, REYES ODA, SHIMIZU, SOUZA, TAKAYAMA, TARNAS, TEMPLO, Amato

SB3256 SD1 and HB2496: Establishes the Hawaii Agricultural Transportation Assistance Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, including a reimbursement program for farmers facing high transportation costs and a grant program for small-scale or rural producers. It creates the Hawaii Agricultural Transportation Assistance Special Fund.

Senate Introducers: GABBARD, CHANG, MCKELVEY, RICHARDS, SAN BUENAVENTURA
House Introducers: CHUN, ALCOS, AMATO, COCHRAN, GRANDINETTI, HARTSFIELD, HOLT, HUSSEY, KAHALOA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, LEE, M., MARTEN, MORIKAWA, POEPOE, REYES ODA, SHIMIZU, SOUZA, TAKAYAMA, TARNAS, TEMPLO

** The Chamber supports HB1707 HD1 SD1, as it contains language consistent with the bills discussed above.

Small Business

SB3048 SD1 HD1 and HB2215: Adds a permanent staff position to the State Building Code Council to improve permitting transparency, modernize building codes, and standardize training for permitting officials.

Senate Introducer: KANUHA
House Introducer: TODD

SB3165 and HB2583 HD1 SD1: Creates the Hawaii Micro-Lending Credit Enhancement Program within DBEDT to expand micro-loans for small businesses by covering first losses.

Senate Introducer: KEOHOKALOLE
House Introducers: KAHALOA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, KUSCH, MARTEN, MIYAKE, PERRUSO, POEPOE, REYES ODA, SHIMIZU

SB3227 SD1 and HB2410 HD1: Directs the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to set state goals and advance economic diversification through innovation and technology. It funds programs supporting small business innovation, manufacturing, and training.

Senate Introducer: DECOITE
House Introducer: ILAGAN

Economic Action

SB3285 SD1 and HB2515 HD2 SD1: Creates a temporary “regulatory sandbox” program within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to test new, flexible rules for building workforce housing.

Senate Introducers: HASHIMOTO, CHANG, KEOHOKALOLE
House Introducers: MIYAKE, AMATO, CHUN, EVSLIN, HARTSFIELD, KAHALOA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, KUSCH, LOWEN, MARTEN, MORIKAWA, OLDS, REYES ODA, SOUZA, TAKENOUCHI

SB3046 SD1 and HB2212: Creates a nonrefundable tax credit for employers who hire eligible interns and apprentices, starting in tax years after December 31, 2026.

Senate Introducer: KANUHA
House Introducer: QUINLAN

SB3047 SD1 and HB2470: Integrates financial literacy instruction into existing public high school courses starting in the 2027–2028 school year. It also directs the Board of Education to provide teacher training.

Senate Introducer: KANUHA
House Introducer: NAKAMURA (Introduced by request of another party)

SB3170 and HB2411 HD1 SD1: Creates the Hawaii Employer-Led Sector Partnerships Special Fund, managed by DBEDT, to support employer-led, demand-driven Sector Partnerships. It directs DBEDT to coordinate with the Workforce Development Council.

Senate Introducer: DECOITE
House Introducer: ILAGAN

SB2666 and HB1872 HD1 SD1: Launches the Early Learning Apprenticeship Grant Program, administered by UH, to provide financial support for early learning program providers participating in approved apprenticeship programs.

Senate Introducers: ELEFANTE, HASHIMOTO
House Introducers: GARRETT, AMATO, KILA, MURAOKA, OLDS, SAYAMA, SOUZA

MARITIME

SB3050 SD1 and HB2416 HD1 SD1: Directs Honolulu Community College, with state agencies and maritime employers, to study and design a statewide apprenticeship pathway for ages 16–24 and report recommendations to the Legislature.

Senate Introducers: INOUYE, ELEFANTE, FUKUNAGA
House Introducers: KILA, AMATO, CHUN, EVSLIN, GARRETT, KAHALOA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KITAGAWA, LOWEN, MARTEN, MIYAKE, MORIKAWA, POEPOE, TAKAYAMA, TAM, TARNAS