Hawaii Senate Majority Announces Priorities for 2023 Legislative Session

With the Thirty-Second Legislature set to open on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, the Hawaiʻi Senate Majority is focused on addressing an array of issues in the upcoming legislative session.

On November 16, 2022, Senate Majority Leader Dru Mamo Kanuha (District 3 – Kona, Kaʻū, and Volcano) convened a Majority Caucus to identify and discuss legislative priorities that aim to improve the quality of life for all residents in Hawai‘i.

The following priorities will be the main areas of focus for the Senate Majority for the 2023 Legislative Session:

Housing

The Senate is committed to addressing the statewide shortage of housing by supporting planned housing projects to provide residents with affordable rent or purchase options; increasing transit-oriented development around major infrastructure projects across the state; developing workforce housing solutions to support residents employed in high demand sectors; seeking opportunities for residents in middle-income brackets to purchase homes; supporting legislation that makes affordable housing remain affordable in perpetuity; and collaborating with the counties to reform the permitting process for affordable housing development.

Education

The Senate is committed to improving Hawai‘i’s education system by addressing teacher shortages and retention through programs such as dedicated affordable housing and educational pathways in partnership with local high schools and the University of Hawai‘i system; supporting early childhood education initiatives, including universal Pre-Kindergarten programs; coordinating with various state agencies to establish educational and vocational tracks in K-12 schools for emerging industries; and pursuing school-level accountability.

The Senate’s education priorities also include higher education, with an emphasis on the development of nursing curriculum and other healthcare specialist programs in schools across the state; educator retention through competitive salaries with industry standards; and prioritizing the diversification of key workforce development pathways in partnership with the University of Hawai‘i system.

Health

The Senate remains committed to improving the health of the state’s residents by addressing gaps in the health continuum of care and expanding healthcare workforce training and education on the neighbor islands—specifically, in rural and underserved communities.

The Senate’s health priority also includes improving the mental health of the state’s residents by establishing annual mental health checkups as a mandatory covered health insurance benefit.

Agriculture

The Senate is committed to promoting and supporting the state’s agriculture and aquaculture resources by increasing personnel assigned to the Department of Agriculture’s Division of Aquaculture, thus, ensuring the timely transfer of land from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture pursuant to Act 90, Session Laws of Hawaiʻi 2003.

The Senate’s priority also includes reimagining the management of the state’s agricultural industry by focusing efforts on the impacts of climate change and invasive species/pests; developing necessary infrastructure to empower local farmers to produce value-added products to market, including the farm-to-school initiative; and examining the state’s medical marijuana industry and other potential agricultural revenue streams that will promote diversity within Hawai‘i’s economy.

Economic Development and Infrastructure

The Senate is committed to expanding economic opportunities in Hawai‘i by partnering with the counties, state agencies, and the private sector to identify key industries and economic drivers that can be properly aligned with education and workforce development in each specific county; developing microgrid technology to provide reasonable, reliable energy to rural communities; improving infrastructure across the state through Department of Transportation projects at airports and state roads; and developing further economic opportunities in aquaculture through research.

Environment and Natural Resource Management

The Senate is committed to restoring and preserving a safe climate for residents of the state by exploring carbon offsets, carbon capture technology, and a carbon taxwhile also addressing existing and future problems due to rising sea levels and other climate change impacts.

The Senate is also committed to protecting the state’s natural resources by improving water resource infrastructure and wastewater management throughout the state, which includes considering the recommendations of the Cesspool Conversion Working Group established pursuant to Act 132, Session Laws of Hawai‘i 2018.

“These legislative priority areas reflect the issues and concerns that were brought forth by all 23 members of our caucus during our convening in November,” said Senate Majority Leader Kanuha. “Our hope is that by working collaboratively with the Senate Minority and the House of Representatives, we will make substantive progress on these important issues.”