HONOLULU — The Hawaii Legislature is heading into its first full week of the
2016 legislative session, and lawmakers are busy submitting new bills. ADVERTISING HONOLULU — The Hawaii Legislature is heading into its first full week of the
2016
HONOLULU — The Hawaii Legislature is heading into its first full week of the
2016 legislative session, and lawmakers are busy submitting new bills.
The week will begin with an overview of the state as Gov. David Ige delivers his annual address today.
Later in the day, mayors from each county will talk with committees about the funding and program support they’d like to receive from the state.
Wednesday is the deadline for new bills to be introduced, so lawmakers are prepping proposals on everything from micro-apartments to genetically modified foods.
The women’s legislative caucus plans to introduce a package of bills on Thursday.
Also on Thursday, a Senate committee will discuss lowering the amount of blood alcohol content that’s legally allowed while driving.
Here’s a sampling of the bills that are being introduced or revived this year:
DRIVING DRUNK — A senator wants to lower the threshold for driving under the influence of intoxicants to a blood-alcohol content of 0.06 percent of the driver’s blood, down from 0.08 percent.
TINY HOMES — A bill seeks money to build tiny homes that would be no more than 220 square feet for one person, or 300 square feet for two people.
SALARY CEILING — Employees of the University of Hawaii won’t be allowed to have a salary that’s more than double what the governor makes without approval of the Legislature under a bill introduced in the House.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS — A number of proposals that seek labeling for genetically modified foods are being revived in the Senate.
