Conference committee finalizes ballot language for constitutional amendment enabling resilient infrastructure bonds

The conference committee reviewed and agreed on CD1 language for SB 3219 HD3, a constitutional amendment that would expressly permit the Legislature to authorize political subdivisions to issue resilient infrastructure for shelter and equity bonds for specified public works and to exclude those bonds from funded‑debt calculations. Chairs proposed a small revision to the ballot question to add the phrase "to direct the legislature," and read the revised question: "Shall the Hawaii State Constitution be amended to direct the legislature to authorize the counties to issue resilient infrastructure for shelter and equity bonds to fund public improvements in designated districts, repaid solely by future growth in property tax revenues within those districts..." The committee recorded agreement and voted to advance the measure for the ballot process.