CapitolWatch action alerts: Welcome to Ledge 2024!
by Wayne Tanaka, Chapter Director | Reading time: 4.25 minutes
The 2024 Legislative Session began with a bang, as its January 17th Opening Day coincided with the 131st anniversary of the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The annual ‘Onipa‘a event commemorating the US Navy-aided insurrection against Queen Lili‘uokalani and her government saw upwards of 5,000 people march from the Royal Mausoleum at Mauna ‘Ala to ‘Iolani Palace, arriving just as the legislature’s floor sessions began.
The juxtaposition of thousands of grassroots community members marching for justice to the palace grounds, right outside of the Hawai‘i State Capitol, signifies in many ways the pivotal choices our elected leaders in the “square building” may have to make this year. Will they listen to the voices of the community, and our calls to protect the environmental, cultural, and social integrity of our islands? Or will corporate lobbyists sway key legislators’ votes in favor of their clients’ profit margins and special interests?
One thing is certain: the legislature has wasted no time in hitting the ground running, and several notable measures have already been getting traction just three weeks into the legislative session. Of particular note are bills that need your testimony at this very moment:
Red Hill remediation: Heal our ‘āina, avoid political pitfalls
Four Red Hill bills that would establish a Red Hill Water Alliance Initiative (WAI) Policy Coordinator, and/or a Red Hill Remediation Authority, have hearings scheduled for this week Monday (SB3338 and SB3339) and Tuesday (HB1690 and HB1691). While they are a good start in realizing the commitment made by the WAI to pursue full remediation of the contaminated ‘āina and wai surrounding and beneath the US Navy’s Red Hill Facility, critical amendments may be needed to avoid the same political pitfalls that plunged Oʻahu into our current water crisis, and that would allow the Navy to evade its responsibility to clean up its mess. Read more about these bills and how you can help shape their contents here. (Also, check out this month’s Surging concerns & federal no-shows article for a rundown of Red Hill bills introduced this legislative session).
Clean elections to defend our democracy and our ‘āina
A potential game-changing measure that could transform local politics for the better also has a hearing on Tuesday, February 6 (SB2381). This bill would provide for full public financing of candidates for office, allowing both incumbents and challengers to focus on the issues and needs of their voters, rather than on raising campaign money from corporations and special interests who will expect their favorable consideration (and votes) in return. Learn how you can raise your voice right now, and help get special interest money out of local politics by reading this action alert here.
“Zombie bills” attack our food security, cultural and environmental integrity
Two bad “zombie bills” with hearings on Wednesday, February 7 would eliminate the Land Use Commission’s ability to protect the public interest in large-scale land use changes impacting a hundred acres or more at a time. These same bills, or versions substantially similar to them, are continually introduced year after year, and inevitably die after community outcry forces legislators to recognize the threat they may pose to our future generations’ food security, cultural integrity, public trust resources, climate resilience, and even our housing supply and local job market. This year, however, developer lobbyists may be emboldened by the Governor’s anti-democratic and unfounded rhetoric around his original Emergency Proclamation on Housing, making community engagement on these and similar measures all the more critical to keep them from passing. Please take a moment to submit your testimony in opposition to these measures by following the directions (with helpful draft verbiage) in this CapitolWatch action alert here.
Free the Water Commission to uphold the public trust
Also with a hearing on Wednesday is a bill that would free the Water Commission to do its job and implement the Water Code, hold deep-pocket violators accountable, and take emergency action to protect our water and the public’s priority needs during a water shortage emergency - without fear of political retribution, as many believe occurred with the “reassignment” of the incredibly effective Water Deputy Kaleo Manuel. You can read more about this measure, and how you can take action to protect the public trust in our most precious resource, here.
Although we are less than one month in, the 2024 Legislature is clearly in full swing. Beyond the above, there are many other exciting measures in play, and our members, supporters, and allies have already killed some bad bills, and helped move forward a number of good ones.
Join us as we all accept our kuleana to engage in the legislative processes that could shape our islands and our future for generations to come, by subscribing to the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi Capitol Watch email list here, signing up for other environmental and public interest advocacy initiatives such as the Environmental Legislative Network and the Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action Civic Action Alerts, and supporting our work through our February monthly donor drive (while doubling the impact of your new or increased monthly donation).
Mahalo nui, and see you at the Ledge!