Gov. David Ige held a press conference today to discuss the conclusion of the state Legislature’s 2022 session.

The Legislature began the session on Jan. 19 with priorities including COVID-19 management, Native Hawaiian redress, diversifying the economy, increasing the minimum wage and addressing educational issues.

Ige applauded the Legislature’s willingness to cooperate on budget issues, noting the projected addition of $6 billion in increased revenue for the financial window.

He also touched on advances in low-income housing and pointed to $1 billion in funding earmarked for Native Hawaiian affairs.

On the leaked Supreme Court draft decision that would strike down Roe v. Wade, Ige said that if the 1973 ruling is overruled, Hawaii’s state laws provide women access to abortion and family planning services.

“There is overwhelming support for [a] woman’s right to choose,” Ige said of Hawaii.

There is concern about Hawaii’s increasing COVID-19 case count and the governor continues to closely monitor the situation.

“I would like to remind everyone that we are not out of the woods when it comes to COVID,” Ige said.

Ige is not currently considering reinstatement of a statewide mask mandate, though he is encouraging everyone to wear a mask indoors and when social distancing is not an option.

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