Brenton Awa

This bill creates a comprehensive system of taxpayer funding for all candidates seeking county or state office. CPAC has long opposed spending taxpayer money on candidates for office and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 4, 2025, by a vote of 21-2, but the bill was not taken up by the House.

This bill requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to examine all state and local housing projects to see if there are any objections, such as a historical designation, a burial site or other designations that would hold things up. CPAC views this as an example of why more housing isn’t available for sale and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on April 30, 2025, by a vote of 25-0, and the bill later became law.

This bill outlines the rule for film production in Hawaii, including income tax credits, adding more credits for hiring local employees. CPAC opposes these tax credits and other aspects of movie subsidies and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 4, 2025, by a vote of 25-0, but the bill never received final approval.

This bill will make it harder to deport those here illegally by providing them with taxpayer-funded lawyers and other due process rights. CPAC supports speeding up deporting illegal immigrants, not slowing the process down and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 4, 2025, by a vote of 23-2, but the bill did not receive final approval in the House.

This bill continues to add diseases contracted for firefighters that become eligible for Worker’s Comp (paid by employers) that are presumed to be caused by working conditions. No proof of any connection is given, so CPAC believes there should be some connection shown as this position drives up health care costs and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 4, 2025, by a vote of 25-0, but the bill died in a conference committee.

This bill forces all renewable energy projects to follow union rules and pay prevailing wage (usually union wage) laws. CPAC opposes these mandates that drive up the cost of projects to taxpayers and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 6, 2025, by a vote of 23-2, but the bill did not get final approval in the House.

This bill requires the Department of Transportation to conduct a study on what it would take to have renewable fuel standards by 2028. CPAC opposes these mandatory standards that drive up the cost of fuel and many other items and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 4, 2025, by a vote of 23-2, but the bill did not get final approval in the House.

This bill appropriates funds for the commercialization of geothermal energy for counties with less than 300,000 population (this excludes Albuquerque). CPAC has viewed many years of unproductive research boosted by states such as New Mexico that has geothermal resources and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 28, 2025, by a vote of 24-0, but the bill did not receive final approval in the House.

This bill changes the needle exchange program from a one-on-one exchange to one that is called need based. CPAC opposes both methods that allow the government to participate in illegal drug use and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 4, 2025, by a vote of 23-2, and the bill later became law.

This bill exempts natural hair braiders from some occupational licensing. CPAC opposes the proliferation of occupational licenses and considers this a step in the right direction. The Senate passed the bill on February 27, 2025, by a vote of 25-0, but the bill was not taken up in the House.

This bill establishes the Hawaii Film Authority to attract filmmakers to Hawaii. CPAC opposes these movie subsidies that usually cost more revenue than are brought in and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 4, 2025, by a vote of 22-2, but the bill did not get final approval in the House.

This bill would protect violent criminals from a sentence of life without parole if they are 21 years old or less. CPAC opposes giving these recognized adults a pass no matter how heinous the crime and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 17, 2025, by a vote of 22-3, and the bill later became law.

This bill expands the requirements for owners of firearms to keep their weapons in storage and notify any purchaser of these restrictions. CPAC sees this as making it more difficult for a gun owner to use a weapon for defense purposes and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 8, 2025, by a vote of 23-2, and the bill later became law.

This bill uses taxpayers' money to pay for collective bargaining costs of Unit 5. CPAC notes that although the appropriations are for Unit 5, other bargaining units (over 14) have requested funds as well. CPAC is outraged by this tactic and opposes this request along with all the others. The Senate passed the bill on April 30, 2025, by a vote of 25-0, and the bill later became law.

This bill sets a series of energy reductions to be met between now and 2045. In total, the mandates require 6000 gigawatts of reductions. CPAC opposes these mandates that raise the cost of energy to everyone and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 30, 2025, by a vote of 23-2, and the bill later became law.

This bill establishes a grant program for the arts that includes promotion and marketing. CPAC believes that those who profit from the arts should be responsible for funding and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 30, 2025, by a vote of 22-2, and the bill later became law.