Aloha
In this edition:
- Update;
- Please take action today;
- Please get involved tomorrow;
- Legislator Contact Info
Update
All three bills that we are watching – SB686 to increase property taxes, SB704 and HB1471 on tax collection agents are now in “conference”. Bills go to conference after passing through both houses but ending up with different versions. The Senate amended the House bills and the House amended the Senate bills and now the versions need to be reconciled. This process takes place behind closed doors and there is no opportunity for testimony.
In the past, RBOAA has sometimes been consulted during the conference process and we have been able to add positively to the final outcome. Whether we will be asked for input this year remains to be seen.
The two tax collection agent bills are wildly different. The two bills are different from each other and the two bills are also very different in their current version than in the version they left the originating house in. Hawaiian politics is wild and unpredictable, but it is difficult to see how either of these two bills will get passed without a significant amount of work. The property tax bill is even harder to predict. We learned yesterday that every legislator received 800 postcards from teachers supporting this bill. That is pretty hard to discount. But, there are cracks in the support for this bill. The House significantly amended the Senate bill and some members of the House voted against the bill. In discussions with certain legislators, there is lukewarm support for this bill. They recognize the political popularity of the tax, but also recognize that it is poor tax policy and probably the wrong solution to the problem. There are just two weeks left in the legislative session and your executive team believes it is still possible to beat the property tax bill. But we need your help.
Please take action today
SB686. Increase to property tax SB686 is a bill to increase property taxes on those who own residential property which is rented out and on vacation rental owners. We would be hit with both taxes. The bill was recently amended in committee and now the residential investment tax applies only to properties valued at over $2 million. This is a huge win for the majority of our members, but a significant new expense for some of our members, but it will be a $15,000+ increase in costs to those with properties over $2 million.
The section applying property tax to vacation rental properties provides for one rate for rental rates over $150 per night, regardless of occupancy and one rate for rental rates under $150, regardless of occupancy. Now – the House took out all of the tax amounts, which means the increase in taxes could go way up – or they could go down. Your RBOAA executive has not been able to determine why this amendment was made. But, before the amounts were stripped out, most of us would have seen an $1825 increase in property tax per year on the vacation rental portion.
We need every member to write, email and phone every member of the House of Representatives and every member of the Senate to let them know you are opposed to this tax hike specifically aimed at you. If you are in Hawaii, visit their offices!
The contact information for the Representatives and Senators is at the bottom of this email. Remember:
- We already pay property taxes which are 3 to 4 times higher than residential property owners.
- It is the wrong solution to a problem. There are other studies on education funding in progress and those should be allowed to be finalized before this bill is considered.
- The mechanism for collecting the transient accommodation tax through the property tax system is complex and unnecessary.
- Property taxes are based on property values, not based on transactions.
- The Counties don’t pay for education, but yet this bill puts the onus on the counties to collect education tax revenue
- The Counties tell us they can’t enforce their own land use laws on vacation rentals, so asking to them to collect a tax on vacation rentals is silly.
- We already collect and remit TAT
- Hawaii already “exports” a significant portion of its tax burden by having non-residents pay an unusually high proportion of the State’s taxes.
- While education benefits everyone, it puts the burden of the cost of education on a few.
Please Get Involved Tomorrow
As with any organization, people come and people go. Every organization needs new people to take on responsibilities, provide new energy and new ideas. RBOAA is no different and some members of your executive team have indicated that they will be stepping down at the end of this term. This is your opportunity to get involved and take on a role within the leadership of RBOAA.
If you are interested, please contact Neal at president@rboaa.org indicating which areas you would like to get involved with and a brief description of your background. Please also tell us where your vacation rental is and confirm that it is compliant with both state and county regulations. Also: it is never too late to financially support RBOAA. While all our executive team are volunteers, our lobbyist and legal advisor are paid professionals. Check out the handy “Donate” button on this website.
Legislator Contact Info
Senate. This table lists the contact information for all Senators. Below the list is a summary of all email addresses which you should be able to copy and paste into your email To: field. [Note: Some members have had issues with the emails and email addresses provided below, while others have had no issues. Apologies to those who have had challenges – I don’t know why!]
| Baker , Rosalyn H. (D) | 808-586-6070 | senbaker@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Chang , Stanley (D) | 808-586-8420 | senchang@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Dela Cruz , Donovan M.(D) | 808-586-6090 | sendelacruz@capitol.hawaii.gov |
| English , J. Kalani (D) | 808-587-7225 | senenglish@capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Espero , Will (D) | 808-586-6360 | senespero@capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Gabbard , Mike (D) | 808-586-6830 | sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Galuteria , Brickwood (D) | 808-586-6740 | sengaluteria@capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Green , Josh (D) | 808-586-9385 | sengreen@capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Harimoto , Breene (D) | 808-586-6230 | senharimoto@capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Ihara , Les Jr. (D) | 808-586-6250 | senihara@capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Inouye , Lorraine R. (D) | 808-586-7335 | seninouye@capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Kahele , Kaiali‘i (D) | 808-586-6760 | senkahele@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Keith-Agaran , Gilbert S.C. (D) | 808-586-7344 | senkeithagaran@capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Kidani , Michelle N. (D) | 808-586-7100 | senkidani@capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Kim , Donna Mercado (D) | 808-587-7200 | senkim@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Kouchi , Ronald D. (D) | 808-586-6030 | senkouchi@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Nishihara , Clarence K. (D) | 808-586-6970 | sennishihara@capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Rhoads , Karl (D) | 808-586-6130 | senrhoads@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Riviere , Gil (D) | 808-586-7330 | senriviere@capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Ruderman , Russell E. (D) | 808-586-6890 | senruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Shimabukuro , Maile S.L.(D) | 808-586-7793 | senshimabukuro@capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Taniguchi , Brian T. (D) | 808-586-6460 | sentaniguchi@capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Thielen , Laura H. (D) | 808-587-8388 | senthielen@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Tokuda , Jill N. (D) | 808-587-7215 | sentokuda@capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Wakai , Glenn (D) | 808-586-8585 | senwakai@capitol.hawaii.gov |
senbaker@Capitol.hawaii.gov; senchang@Capitol.hawaii.gov; sendelacruz@capitol.hawaii.gov; senenglish@capitol.hawaii.gov; senespero@capitol.hawaii.gov; sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov; sengaluteria@capitol.hawaii.gov; sengreen@capitol.hawaii.gov; senharimoto@capitol.hawaii.gov; senihara@capitol.hawaii.gov; seninouye@capitol.hawaii.gov; senkahele@Capitol.hawaii.gov; senkeithagaran@capitol.hawaii.gov; senkidani@capitol.hawaii.gov; senkim@Capitol.hawaii.gov; senkouchi@Capitol.hawaii.gov; sennishihara@capitol.hawaii.gov; senrhoads@Capitol.hawaii.gov; senriviere@capitol.hawaii.gov; senruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov; senshimabukuro@capitol.hawaii.gov; sentaniguchi@capitol.hawaii.gov; senthielen@Capitol.hawaii.gov; sentokuda@capitol.hawaii.gov; senwakai@capitol.hawaii.gov ;
House of Representatives. Below the list is a summary of all email addresses which you should be able to copy and paste into your email To: field.
| Aquino , Henry J.C. (D) | 808-586-6520 | repaquino@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Belatti , Della Au (D) | 808-586-9425 | repbelatti@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Brower , Tom (D) | 808-586-8520 | repbrower@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Cachola , Romy M. (D) | 808-586-6010 | repcachola@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Choy , Isaac W. (D) | 808-586-8475 | repchoy@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Creagan , Richard P. (D) | 808-586-9605 | repcreagan@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Cullen , Ty J.K. (D) | 808-586-8490 | repcullen@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| DeCoite , Lynn (D) | 808-586-6790 | repdecoite@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Evans , Cindy (D) | 808-586-8510 | repevans@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Fukumoto , Beth (R) | 808-586-9460 | repfukumoto@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Gates , Cedric Asuega (D) | 808-586-8460 | repgates@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Har , Sharon E. (D) | 808-586-8500 | rephar@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Hashem , Mark J. (D) | 808-586-6510 | rephashem@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Holt , Daniel (D) | 808-586-6180 | repholt@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Ichiyama , Linda (D) | 808-586-6220 | repichiyama@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Ing , Kaniela (D) | 808-586-8525 | reping@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Ito , Ken (D) | 808-586-8470 | repito@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Johanson , Aaron Ling (D) | 808-586-9470 | repjohanson@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Keohokalole , Jarrett (D) | 808-586-8540 | repkeohokalole@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Kobayashi , Bertrand (D) | 808-586-6310 | repkobayashi@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Kong , Sam Satoru (D) | 808-586-8455 | repkong@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Lee , Chris (D) | 808-586-9450 | replee@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| LoPresti , Matthew S. (D) | 808-586-6080 | replopresti@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Lowen , Nicole E. (D) | 808-586-8400 | replowen@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Luke , Sylvia (D) | 808-586-6200 | repluke@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Matsumoto , Lauren Kealohilani (R) | 808-586-9490 | repmatsumoto@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| McDermott , Bob (R) | 808-586-9730 | repmcdermott@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| McKelvey , Angus L.K. (D) | 808-586-6160 | repmckelvey@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Mizuno , John M. (D) | 808-586-6050 | repmizuno@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Morikawa , Dee (D) | 808-586-6280 | repmorikawa@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Nakamura , Nadine K. (D) | 808-586-8435 | repnakamura@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Nakashima , Mark M. (D) | 808-586-6680 | repnakashima@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Nishimoto , Scott Y. (D) | 808-586-8515 | repnishimoto@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Ohno , Takashi (D) | 808-586-9415 | repohno@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Onishi , Richard H.K. (D) | 808-586-6120 | reponishi@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Oshiro , Marcus R. (D) | 808-586-6700 | repmoshiro@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Quinlan , Sean (D) | 808-586-6380 | repquinlan@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Saiki , Scott K. (D) | 808-586-8485 | repsaiki@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| San Buenaventura , Joy A. (D) | 808-586-6530 | repsanbuenaventura@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Say , Calvin K.Y. (D) | 808-586-6900 | repsay@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Souki , Joseph M. (D) | 808-586-6100 | repsouki@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Takayama , Gregg (D) | 808-586-6340 | reptakayama@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Takumi , Roy M. (D) | 808-586-6170 | reptakumi@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Thielen , Cynthia (R) | 808-586-6480 | repthielen@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Todd , Chris (D) | 808-586-8480 | reptodd@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Tokioka , James Kunane(D) | 808-586-6270 | reptokioka@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Tupola , Andria P.L. (R) | 808-586-8465 | reptupola@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Ward , Gene (R) | 808-586-6420 | repward@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Woodson , Justin H. (D) | 808-586-6210 | repwoodson@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Yamane , Ryan I. (D) | 808-586-6150 | repyamane@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
| Yamashita , Kyle T. (D) | 808-586-6330 | repyamashita@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
repaquino@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repbelatti@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repbrower@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repcachola@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repchoy@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repcreagan@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repcullen@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repdecoite@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repevans@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repfukumoto@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repgates@Capitol.hawaii.gov; rephar@Capitol.hawaii.gov; rephashem@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repholt@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repichiyama@Capitol.hawaii.gov; reping@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repito@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repjohanson@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repkeohokalole@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repkobayashi@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repkong@Capitol.hawaii.gov; replopresti@Capitol.hawaii.gov; replowen@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repluke@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repmatsumoto@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repmcdermott@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repmckelvey@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repmizuno@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repmorikawa@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repnakamura@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repnakashima@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repnishimoto@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repohno@Capitol.hawaii.gov; reponishi@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repmoshiro@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repquinlan@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repsaiki@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repsanbuenaventura@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repsay@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repsouki@Capitol.hawaii.gov; reptakayama@Capitol.hawaii.gov; reptakumi@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repthielen@Capitol.hawaii.gov; reptodd@Capitol.hawaii.gov; reptokioka@Capitol.hawaii.gov; reptupola@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repward@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repwoodson@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repyamane@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repyamashita@Capitol.hawaii.gov;
Thank you for your continued support.
Mahalo,
Neal
info@rboaa.org