Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

Hawaii Senate Bill SCR95

Introduced
3/7/25  
Refer
3/11/25  
Report Pass
4/1/25  
Engrossed
4/2/25  

Caption

Requesting The County Of Maui To Study The Feasibility Of Implementing A Universal Basic Income Program For Residents And Business Owners Impacted By The 2023 Maui Wildfires.

Impact

The proposed UBI is modeled after successful recovery initiatives, such as Tennessee's My People Fund, which provided regular cash payments to wildfire victims, thereby improving housing security and emotional health. It is suggested that by implementing a UBI, the County of Maui could create a financial safety net that empowers impacted individuals by allowing them to address their most pressing needs, including housing, medical expenses, and business recovery. The resolution acknowledges the projected long-term economic challenges faced by the county, including housing instability and declining tourism revenues, requesting that measures be taken to alleviate these issues.

Summary

Senate Concurrent Resolution 95 (SCR95) requests the County of Maui to study the feasibility of implementing a universal basic income (UBI) program aimed at assisting residents and business owners severely impacted by the 2023 Maui wildfires. The wildfires have caused extensive damage, displacing thousands and disrupting the local economy, which has raised significant concerns regarding long-term recovery efforts. This resolution aims to explore how a UBI could offer direct financial support to help stabilize the local community amidst the ongoing recovery process.

Contention

While the resolution is positioned positively towards aiding recovery, it remains open to various discussions around eligibility criteria, funding sources, and potential partnerships with nonprofit organizations and research institutions. The feasibility study required by the resolution must consider these factors carefully, ensuring that all voices and concerns from the affected community are heard. The resolution does not mandate immediate action but rather encourages a detailed examination of how best to implement such a program, highlighting both the nuances of UBI and the broader implications for state welfare policies.

Companion Bills

HI SR78

Same As Requesting The County Of Maui To Study The Feasibility Of Implementing A Universal Basic Income Program For Residents And Business Owners Impacted By The 2023 Maui Wildfires.

Previously Filed As

HI SCR226

Requesting The Governor, In Collaboration With The County Of Maui, To Provide A Clear Strategy For Addressing The Short And Long-term Housing Needs For Residents Displaced By The August 2023 Maui Wildfires.

HI SR202

Requesting The Governor, In Collaboration With The County Of Maui, To Provide A Clear Strategy For Addressing The Short And Long-term Housing Needs For Residents Displaced By The August 2023 Maui Wildfires.

HI SCR186

Requesting The Insurance Commissioner To Conduct A Comprehensive Study On Wildfire Risk And Insurance, Including Market-based Approaches.

HI SCR227

Requesting The County Of Maui To Audit The Maui County Film Office.

HI SCR123

Requesting The Department Of Land And Natural Resources To Convene A Working Group To Make Recommendations On Solutions To Reduce Wildfire Risk And The Feasibility Of Establishing A Vegetation Management Program As It Relates To Landowners And Public Utilities.

HI SCR82

Requesting The Director Of Commerce And Consumer Affairs To Convene A Working Group To Study And Devise Comprehensive Strategies To Restore Accessible Insurance Options To Residents And Commercial Businesses In Lava Zones 1 And 2.

HI SCR224

Requesting The Federal Emergency Management Agency To Further Assist Maui Wildfire Victims By Amending Its Requirements Under The Direct Lease Program To Require That Properties Qualifying For The Program And Used By Lahaina Residents As Temporary Housing Be Within Twenty Miles Of Lahaina, Rather Than Within Forty Miles.

HI SR160

Requesting The Insurance Commissioner To Conduct A Comprehensive Study On Wildfire Risk And Insurance, Including Market-based Approaches.

HI HCR94

Requesting The Department Of Human Services To Conduct A Study On The Feasibility Of Increasing The Medicaid Reimbursement Payment Rate For Hawaii's Community Care Foster Family Homes And Expanded Adult Residential Care Homes For Medicaid Clients In 2032 And Every Ten Years Thereafter.

HI SR203

Requesting The County Of Maui To Audit The Maui County Film Office.

Similar Bills

CA AB33

2017 northern California wildfires.

HI SB2922

Relating To Public Utilities.

HI HB881

Relating To Public Utilities.

HI HB2265

Relating To Public Utilities.

CA AB745

Electricity: climate credits.

CA SB1334

Substance use disorder treatment: licensing.

CA AB1513

Electrical corporations: financing orders: wildfire mitigation expenses.

CA AB3263

Electrical corporations: financing orders.