Title/Synopsis: Proposing Amendments To Articles Viii And X Of The Constitution Of The State Of Hawaii To Authorize The Legislature To Establish A Surcharge To Increase Funding For Public Education.
Date Introduced: 1/27/2021
Current Status: 25% progression; pending, referred to EDN, JHA, FIN
This bill is relevant in the midst of data that find Hawaii’s public education funding inadequate compared to the rest of the US, amidst a growing need for “high-needs” students. The amendment of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii would advance efforts to provide children quality education by authorizing the legislature to establish a surcharge on residential investment property and visitor accommodations. Specifically, sub charging investment property valued at $2 million to fund Hawaii public education programs (public preschools, teacher recruitment, special education, etc). This amendment takes advantage of taxation on an increasing amount of wealthy homeowners and funnels that money to public education.