News
Agricultural property tax reform would help farmers expand
1+ day, 7+ hour ago (538+ words) April 22, 2026, 8: 30 a. m. Historic County Building To: Kaua'i County Council " " " Mel Rapozo, Chair " " " Kipu Kai Kuali'i, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii " " " " " " Jonathan Helton, Policy Analyst RE: Bill 2987 " RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY TAX Aloha Chair Rapozo, Vice Chair Kuali'i and other…...
Property tax rollback bill should protect from unjust penalties
1+ day, 7+ hour ago (372+ words) April 22, 2026, 8: 30 a. m. Historic County Building To: Kaua'i County Council " " " Mel Rapozo, Chair " " " Kipu Kai Kuali'i, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii " " " " " " Jonathan Helton, Policy Analyst RE: Bill 2995 " RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY TAX Aloha Chair Rapozo, Vice Chair Kuali'i and other…...
Do not increase property tax rates on certain homes
1+ day, 17+ hour ago (289+ words) April 20, 2026, 9 a. m. Kalana O Maui Building To: Maui County Council " " " Alice Lee, Chair " " " Yuki Lei Sugimura, Vice Chair From: Jonathan Helton, Policy Analyst " " " " " "Grassroot Institute of Hawaii RE: REAL PROPERTY TAX RATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 Aloha Chair Lee, Vice Chair Sugimura…...
When good bills go bad
2+ day, 14+ hour ago (407+ words) As the 2026 legislative session enters its final weeks, I am happy to report that several of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii's priority measures are still in play and positioned to be finalized in various House-Senate conference committees. Some just need…...
Preapproved house plans could help reduce permit backlog
5+ day, 19+ hour ago (379+ words) April 16, 2026, 1: 30 p. m." Hawaii State Capitol Conference Room 225 and Videoconference To: Senate Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs " " " Sen. Glenn Wakai, Chair " " " Sen. Stanley Chang, Vice Chair " " " Senate Committee on Housing " " " Sen. Stanley Chang, Chair " " " Sen. Troy N. Hashimoto, Vice Chair From: Grassroot…...
Audit of State Building Code Council could lead to housing growth
5+ day, 19+ hour ago (363+ words) April 16, 2026, 9 a. m. Hawaii State Capitol Conference Room 411 and Videoconference To: House Committee on Water & Land Rep. Mark J. Hashem, Chair Rep. Dee Morikawa, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF SCR69 " REQUESTING…...
Property tax reform would help ag land owners expand businesses
1+ week, 12+ hour ago (540+ words) April 15, 2026, 8: 30 a. m. Historic County Building To: Kaua'i County Council Finance and Economic Development Committee " " " Arryl Kaneshiro, Chair " " " Kipu Kai Kuali'i, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii " " " " " " Jonathan Helton, Policy Analyst RE: Bill 2987 " RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY TAX Aloha Chair Kaneshiro,…...
City budget shows fiscal prudence but more efficiency cuts needed
1+ week, 12+ hour ago (342+ words) April 15, 2026, 10 a. m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Tommy Waters, Chair Andria Tupola, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 22 (2026), CD1 " RELATING TO THE EXECUTIVE OPERATING BUDGET AND PROGRAM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY…...
How building new homes benefits everyone
1+ week, 2+ day ago (259+ words) A new report from economists at the University of Hawai'i makes a point that many of us have known all along: If we want to end the housing crisis, we need to build more homes. That's because each new unit…...
Property tax changes would help Kauai farmers and ranchers
1+ week, 5+ day ago (571+ words) The Kaua'i County Council is considering a bill that would make it easier for farmers and ranchers to grow and sell more local food " something that would benefit all island residents." The measure at hand is Bill 2987, introduced by Council…...