Bill package advocates for Hawaiʻi keiki

Hawaiʻi state legislators and community advocates joined together to present the 2025 Keiki Caucus Bill Package and priorities dedicated to improving the lives of Hawaiʻi’s children and families. 

The Keiki Caucus, established in 1994, is a collaboration between Hawaiʻi state legislators,  community leaders, and youth-centered organizations who come together to propose, draft,  support, and implement policy changes that will improve the lives of Hawaiʻi’s young people. 

The Keiki Caucus is co-convened by Sen. Joy A. San Buenaventura representing Puna, Rep. Lisa Marten representing Waimānalo, Keolu Hills, Lanikai and parts of Kailua, and Rep. Ikaika Olds representing McCully-Mōʻiliʻili.

Legislators identified five top priority issues impacting Hawaiʻi’s youth and families for the upcoming legislative session. They include:

• Tax credits for household and dependent care services;
• Funding for community schools;
• Paid family leave;
• E-cigarette regulation;
• Universal free school breakfast and lunches.

“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  Representative 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 the following measures:

• HB753 – Relating to the Household and Dependent Care Services Tax Credit
  • Increases a taxpayer’s applicable percentage of employment-related expenses that is used  to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit.
  • Extends 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, established by Act 163,  SLH 2023, to 6/30/2030. Sunsets 6/30/2030. 
• HB754 / SB821 – Relating to Community Schools 
  • Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for community schools and a  program manager position. 
• HB755 / SB852 – Relating to Paid Family Leave
  • By 1/1/2028, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a  family and medical leave insurance program and begin collecting payroll contributions to  \finance payment of benefits.
  • By 1/1/2029, requires the Department to start receiving  claims and paying benefits under the program. Specifies eligibility requirements and employee protections under the program. 
• HB756 / SB972 – Relating to Health (E-Liquids) 
  • Prohibits the sale of flavored nicotine products and the mislabeling of e-liquids as  nicotine-free,
  • Establishes penalties for violations,
  • Authorizes the Department of Health to appoint, commission, or contract for services of inspectors,
  • Establishes two full-time  equivalent program specialist positions and one full-time equivalent hearing officer position.
• HB757 – Relating to Education 
  • Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the Department of Education to  provide free breakfast and lunch to all students enrolled in department schools.

Community advocates from Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Ceeds of Peace, Hawaiʻi Afterschool  Alliance, Hawaiʻi Appleseed, and Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network Speaks! rallied their support for the bills outlined in today’s press conference. The Keiki Caucus, established in 1994, is a collaboration between Hawaiʻi state legislators, community leaders, and youth-centered organizations who come together to propose, draft,  support, and implement policy changes that will improve the lives of Hawaiʻi’s young people.