28-01-2025
Keiki Caucus announces 2025 legislative package
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hawaiʻi state legislators, alongside community advocates, presented the 2025 Keiki Caucus Bill Package and priorities for the upcoming legislative year on Jan. 27, aiming to improve the lives of Hawaiʻi's keiki and priority issues were identified by legislators, including tax credits for household and dependent care services, funding for community schools, universal free school meals and more.
House Native Hawaiian Affairs Caucus announces 2025 priority bills
'During the interim, we collaborated with community advocates to develop proposals that address top-of-mind issues such as the rising cost of childcare, which significantly impacts the cost of living for Hawaiʻi's keiki and families,' said Keiki Caucus Co-Convenor and Rep. Lisa Marten. 'We also identified ways to support our youth in schools, ensuring they receive a quality education while feeling empowered and supported to succeed.'
The 2025 Keiki Caucus Bill Package consists of these measures:
HB753 — Relating to the Household and Dependent Care Services Tax Credit
This bill would increase a taxpayer's applicable percentage of employment-related expenses that is used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit. It would also extend the sunset date of the temporary increase in maximum employment-related expenses that are used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit.
HB754/SB821 — Relating to Community Schools
This bill would appropriate funding to the Department of Education for community schools and a program manager position.
HB755/SB852 — Relating to Paid Family Leave
The bill would require the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a family and medical leave insurance program, as well as the ability to begin collecting payroll contributions to finance payment benefits by Jan. 1, 2028. By Jan. 1, 2029, it would require the DLIR to start receiving claims and paying benefits from the program. It also specifies the eligibility requirements and employee protections under the benefits program.
HB756/SB972 — Relating to Health (E-Liquids)
Effective Jan. 1 , 2026, this bill would prohibit the sale of flavored nicotine products and the mislabeling of e-liquids as nicotine-free. Penalties and violations would also be established with this bill. The Department of Health would be authorized to appoint, commission or contract for services of inspectors. It also established two full-time equivalent program specialist positions and one full-time equivalent hearing officer position, as well as appropriating funds.
HB757 — Relating to Education
Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, this bill would require the Department of Education to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students enrolled in department schools. It would also appropriate funds for this initiative.
Community advocates joining the Keiki Caucus include Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Creeds of Peace, Hawaiʻi Afterschool Alliance, Hawaiʻi Appleseed and Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks! (HCAN Speaks!).
The caucus was established in 1994 and is co-convened by Sen. Joy A. San Buenaventura and Reps. Marten and Ikaika Olds.
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