Hawaii Legislature Begins
The 30th biennial Hawaii Legislature will begin Wednesday morning, with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle vowing to avoid the bitterness and divisiveness that has defined the federal government.
Both parties are expected to lay out their legislative priorities for the year, which will likely involve raising the minimum wage, legalizing recreational marijuana, and funding disaster recovery after historic floods on Kauai and the unprecedented Kilauea eruption on Hawaii Island.
The last minimum wage increase went into effect a year ago, when hourly rates were increased to $10.10. However, many legislators have argued that needs to get bumped up again, with some suggesting to at least $15 as was recently agreed to in New York. This is to ensure it will be not just a minimum wage but a “living wage.”
The hike has been an issue that Democrats and Republicans have often sparred over as opponents argue it will hurt small business and advocates say it will prevent local families from falling into poverty or homelessness.
The Democratic Party of Hawaii has identified establishing a living wage, legalizing recreational cannabis and increasing funding for public education as its top Legislative priorities for 2019.
The pathway to decriminalizing recreational marijuana use may be a little clearer than it has ever been thanks in part to its legalization in 10 states and Washington, D.C. But since pot is still illegal at the federal level, it faces an uphill battle.
Cannabis bills have been shot down every session for the past two decades, and even lawmakers who are open to the suggestion, point to the length of time it took to get Hawaii’s dispensaries off the ground years after medical marijuana was legalized.
One issue legislators are more likely to agree on is disaster recovery funding after historic floods on Kauai and the unprecedented Kilauea eruption on Hawaii Island.
The House Finance and Senate Ways and Means committees appropriated $125 million back in April to address the extensive damage caused on Kauai and Oahu, but the Legislature was already out of session when the first fissure opened in Leilani Estates.
Hawaii County Harry Kim announced recently that he would ask lawmakers for a “lava relief package” of $155 million over the next two years.
While hundreds of bills are introduced each year, the reality is that only about 10 percent of them make it all the way through the session and ultimately get signed into law.
State officials are expecting a large crowd for the ceremony that will kick off this year’s 60-day session at 10 a.m.
If you’re heading this way, here’s what you need to know: Officials want to remind everyone there will be no public parking at the state Capitol, so they’re encouraging everyone to carpool or use public transportation.
That said, everyone is welcome to attend the opening floor sessions. Just keep in mind that seating will be limited, so you may want to arrive early.
The chamber galleries will open to the public at 9:30 a.m.
The House floor proceedings will feature a special presentation from Henry Kapono, followed by remarks from House Speaker Scott Saiki, Minority Leader Gene Ward and Majority Leader Della Au Belatti.
There are 46 Democrats in the Hawaii House of Representatives and five Republicans.
If you’re not able to attend, House floor proceedings will air live on Olelo channel 49 from 10 a.m. until noon.
The Senate’s opening ceremony will also begin at 10 a.m., and Senate President Ron Kouchi will address lawmakers, along with Sen. Kurt Fevella, the only Republican in state Senate.
The first thing they’re set to tackle is the election of a Senate vice president.
The Senate floor proceedings will also air live on Olelo, which will be broadcast on channel 53.
By Mileka Lincoln HNN
