January 18, 2017 (2017-01-18) – May 4, 2017 (2017-05-04)
The Twenty Ninth Hawaii State Legislature, consisting of the Hawaii House of Representatives and the Hawaii Senate, was constituted in the U.S. state of Hawaii from November 10, 2016, to November 6, 2018, during the final two years of David Ige's first term as governor. The 2016 elections gave the Democrats an even larger majority in both legislative bodies, with the losses of one Republican representative and lone Republican senator Sam Slom.
On March 22, 2017, former House Minority Leader Beth Fukumoto announced she would leave the Republican Party and seek membership in the Democratic Party.[1] This lowered Republican membership in the Hawaii House of Representatives to 5 against 45 Democrats.
Major events
January 18, 2017: Opening Day of the 2017 Legislative Session
February 2, 2017: House Minority Leader Beth Fukumoto was ousted over her criticisms of President Donald Trump. She was replaced by Minority Floor Leader Andria Tupola of Nanakuli.
March 22, 2017: Republican Representative and former House Minority Leader Beth Fukumoto announced her resignation from the Republican Party and her intention to seek membership with the Democratic Party.
May 3, 2017: A bill to fund Honolulu's rail transit system failed when the Senate and House of Representatives could not reach an agreement after 11 hours. Governor David Ige announced he would not extend the legislative session unless the two houses came to a consensus despite the requests of all four Hawaii mayors.
May 4, 2017: Senator Jill Tokuda was removed from the Senate Ways and Means Committee for her role in killing the rail funding bill. House Speaker Joseph M. Souki resigned from his post and was replaced by House Majority Leader Scott Saiki. This was also the final day of the 2017 Legislative Session.
Major Legislation
Enacted
Proposed
May 2, 2017: SB562: Requires the Attorney General to defend any civil action against the county based on negligence, wrongful act, or omission of a county lifeguard for services at a designated state beach park.
May 3, 2017: HB100: State Budget for fiscal years 2018-2019
May 3, 2017: HB115: Requires all counties with populations over 500,000 to take ownership and jurisdiction over all "disputed roads" under certain circumstances
May 3, 2017: HB451: Reduces the minimum Hawaiian blood quantum requirement of certain successors to lessees of Hawaiian home lands from one-quarter to one thirty-second.
May 3, 2017: HB1098: Requires emergency shelters to have partitioned space for homeless persons or families.
