Legislators take stock of session’s accomplishments

The state Legislature wrapped up for the year Thursday as lawmakers called the 60-day session one of the most collaborative and productive in recent memory.

Unlike 2017, when a number of priority bills failed after negotiations deadlocked, this session produced legislation to address the homeless and affordable-housing crises; aid with flood relief work on Kauai; legalize medical aid in dying; and impose bans on pesticides and sunscreen chemicals.

Other successful measures dealt with economic development, kupuna care and a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow property taxes to be used for public education.

Topping the list of accomplishments were the large investments in various homeless initiatives and affordable-housing programs, to the tune of $50 million and $600 million, respectively. The fast-tracked flood relief measure provides another $125 million for Kauai and Oahu.

Senate President Ron Kouchi summed up the session as “bold” and likened lawmakers to superheroes.

“You used all of your power to ensure that we did good for the people of Hawaii,” Kouchi (D, Kauai- Niihau) told the Senate.

He added that “while the House and the Senate may not always see eye to eye,” lawmakers “came together to see heart to heart” when they passed the flood relief funds.

Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English (D, Molokai- Lanai-East Maui) described the session as “smooth” and said the effort required lawmakers to be collaborative and realistic.

“I think what we realized is instead of us fighting each other, we had to collaborate on a lot of things,” English said of the working relationship with the House. “Even though some things we wanted didn’t pass, some things didn’t get through, a lot of good things did. Hopefully, it’s a template for the future and it’s a template of how we can work better together.”

Some of the measures that lawmakers failed to agree on this year include efforts to better regulate vacation rentals while tapping into taxes generated by short-term rentals, create an agency to manage the state’s airports and establish a state-run paid family leave program.

In the House, Finance Chairwoman Sylvia Luke ticked off a list of accomplishments by the Legislature on issues ranging from the ban of the pesticide chlorpyrifos to funding additional ambulances on Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii island.

“With all the things that we looked at, I’m very proud to be part of this legislative body that took on major issues in such a short amount of time to address so many significant needs in the community,” she said.

House Minority Leader Andria Tupola thanked the Democrats for their efforts in what she called “a wonderful session.”

“We’ve actually found common ground in quite a few things, and I think that has made both the majority and the minority stronger,” Tupola (R, Kalaeloa-Ko Olina-Maili) said. “I hope that during this interim that we can still work hard for each and every one of our communities.”

After the House adjourned, lawmakers joined their Senate counterparts and gathered in a circle and held hands to sing “Hawaii Aloha.”

Both chambers bade farewell Thursday to several lawmakers who are seeking higher office in the upcoming elections or retiring.

In the House, state Rep. Isaac Choy (D, Manoa-Punahou-Moiliili) is retiring, while state Reps. Kaniela Ing (D, South Maui) and Beth Fukumoto (D, Mililani-Mililani Mauka-Waipio Acres) are running for Congress.

State Reps. Jarrett Keohokalole (D, Kahaluu-Ahuimanu-Kaneohe) and Ken Ito (Kaneohe-Maunawili-Kailua) are running for the state Senate seat representing Windward Oahu. State Rep. Matt LoPresti (D, Ewa Villages-Ocean Pointe-Ewa Beach) is seeking the state Senate seat representing Ewa Beach, and Tupola is running for governor.

In the Senate, state Sens. Will Espero (D, Ewa Beach- Iroquois Point), Josh Green (D, Naalehu-Kailua-Kona) and Jill Tokuda (D, Kailua- Kaneohe) are vying for the lieutenant governor position.

Star-Advertiser reporter Kevin Dayton contributed to this report.