Tax fairness promoted in bills would implement major changes
“When we talk about a fairer tax code, what we really mean is that we want to create a system where everyone pays their fair share,” said Will White, executive director of the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, a coalition member. “We need to make sure that the wealthiest among us are paying what they owe and contributing to our collective future.”
Two pending bills aim to amend a 2024 law that reduces Hawaiʻi income taxes in eight annual steps through 2031. Gov. Josh Green offered the two measures, House Bill 2306 and Senate Bill 3125, to repeal the last five years of relief to preserve state revenue to offset anticipated financial burdens from federal funding losses and policy changes.
New drafts of each bill made by lawmakers would repeal only some of the remaining relief while also increasing taxes on higher-earning households.