Civil Beat Categories

Legislature 2017

Ige Plans To Veto Bill To End Aquarium Fishing Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Ige Plans To Veto Bill To End Aquarium Fishing

The Hawaii governor plans to veto 15 bills, including legislation that would have given public worker unions more power.
DLNR Urges Ige To Veto Bill Phasing Out Aquarium Fishing In Hawaii Cory Lum/Civil Beat

DLNR Urges Ige To Veto Bill Phasing Out Aquarium Fishing In Hawaii

The head of Hawaii's aquatic resource division said he's not sure lawmakers "knew what they were doing" when they passed the bill.
Legislature Plans To Hold Special Session On Honolulu Rail Funding Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Legislature Plans To Hold Special Session On Honolulu Rail Funding

UPDATED: Leaders try to assure federal officials that the state is committed to coming up with money, but there no sign a deal has been reached.
Is Hawaii Aquarium Fishing Headed For A ‘Slow-Motion Shutdown’? FromSandToGlass/Flickr

Is Hawaii Aquarium Fishing Headed For A ‘Slow-Motion Shutdown’?

A bill supported by environmental groups would prevent the state from issuing new permits for commercial collection of aquarium fish.
Civil Beat Poll: Support Is Strong In Hawaii For Medical Aid In Dying Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat/2017

Civil Beat Poll: Support Is Strong In Hawaii For Medical Aid In Dying

Legislators kept the issue at bay again last session, but two-thirds of poll respondents say it's time to act.
State Tax Collections Still Predicted To Grow Slightly Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat

State Tax Collections Still Predicted To Grow Slightly

But the state's top financial advisers decided not to try to predict what the Legislature might do with rail.
How Did Donovan Dela Cruz Just Become Hawaii’s Most Powerful Senator? Cory Lum/Civil Beat

How Did Donovan Dela Cruz Just Become Hawaii’s Most Powerful Senator?

The longtime pro-business, pro-rail lawmaker has a history of ethics concerns, backroom dealing and a volatile temperament.
Hawaii Taxpayers Are On The Hook For $18 Million To Settle Claims Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Hawaii Taxpayers Are On The Hook For $18 Million To Settle Claims

Lawsuits filed by airport subcontractors for nonpayment represent $10 million of the total. Gov. David Ige approved the payouts last week.
Counties: ‘We Got Screwed’ By The Legislature On Lifeguard Protection Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat

Counties: ‘We Got Screwed’ By The Legislature On Lifeguard Protection

Council members, mayors and others remain frustrated by the influence a group of personal injury lawyers had on the decision.
Lawmakers Must Make Good On Deal To Raise Foster Parent Fees Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat

Lawmakers Must Make Good On Deal To Raise Foster Parent Fees

It's not too late. The issue could be part of a special session on rail funding that could happen later this summer.