No portion of this Legislative Update may be reproduced without the expressed consent of the Hawaii Association of REALTORS®.

Please email govtaffairs@hawaiirealtors.com for consent consideration.

Conference committee meetings on bills are being held through this week and the next. Conference committee members are appointed from each House to resolve differences between the House and the Senate versions of a bill or resolution. If an agreement is not achieved by next week Thursday everning, the bill or resolution will die in conference committee, HAR is closely monitoring real estate-related measures which are moving very quickly in these last few weeks of the session, specifically the conveyance tax and general excise tax measures.

Statewide Rally at the State Capitol Rotunda
 Tuesday, April 26 from 6 - 9 AM

On Tuesday, April 26, there will be a statewide grassroots/anti-tax rally at the State Capitol Rotunda. Radio personality Rick Hamada will broadcast his radio show live (KHVH - AM 830) from 6 am – 9 am. Please show your support as a concerned taxpayer in this state by attending this rally.

Governors' Appointments to Commissions and Boards

The following REALTORS® have been confirmed by the full Senate:

Edward MacDowell - Small Business Regulatory Review Board

Randy Prothero - Civil Defense Advisory Council

Mary Elizabeth Worrall - Hawaii Medical Education Council

Lloyd Sodetani - Advisory on Veterans' Services

The Senate Nomination Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture approved Kay Mukaigawa for the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA). It will now go before the Senate floor for confirmation.

On Friday, April 22, Berton Hamamoto and Mac Lowson will testify before the Senate Nomination Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture on their nominations to the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR).

For the most current and detailed information on bills, go to http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov for bill status and descriptions.

If you have any questions or comments you would like to forward to the Legislative Committee, please call the Government Affairs Division at 733-7060 or 1-888-737-9070, or by e-mail at govtaffairs@hawaiirealtors.com.