Bill > HB2295

This bill increases the monetary threshold for certain exemptions in government contracting for public works construction projects in Hawaii. Specifically, it raises the exemption for prevailing wages, which are minimum wage requirements for construction workers on government projects, from $2,000 to $5,000 for governmental contracting agencies, meaning agencies will not have to adhere to these wage rules for projects costing up to $5,000. Additionally, it creates an exemption from contractor licensing laws for public works construction projects valued up to $5,000 for these same agencies, meaning contractors on smaller projects may not need to be licensed. These changes are intended to streamline the process for smaller, routine construction and repair jobs, allowing government agencies to address maintenance issues more quickly and efficiently, as the previous thresholds had not been updated in many years and did not account for inflation.