Governor Linda Lingle signed the "Three Violent Strikes Bill" into law on May 8 at a bill signing ceremony held in her office. This new law (Act 81) will mandate that criminals convicted of three separate violent crimes are sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in prison.

This will prevent felons convicted of multiple offenses including heinous crimes such as murder from being released from prison to commit yet another felony.

The Governor said that "it wasn't an easy law to pass. I think it's important to mention that nearly one-third of the State House voted against this bill."

The vote for the bill in the Senate was 19 - 4 with the entire minority caucus including myself voting in favor of its passage. I have supported the "three strikes" legislation for many years.

GAS CAP SUSPENDED

As of presstime today, the Governor had signed more than 100 bills into law.

One of the first bills signed by the Governor into law after the session adjourned was the suspension of the controversial gas cap law. HB 3115 CD1 was signed into law as Act 78.

Effective as of the May 8 bill signing day, gasoline refiners and distributors will no longer be bound by an artificial formula that sets wholesale gasoline prices in eight regions around the State. The cap had been in effect since September 1, 2005. Since that time, global oil prices have risen sharply. As a result of the cap, Hawai`i experienced unprecedented swings in the price of fuel from one week to the next, and the gap between mainland and Hawai`i gas prices increased.

While suspension of the onerous gas cap is good, I still favor a complete repeal of the gas cap law. As things now stand, the Governor still has the right to implement price controls on gasoline but has indicated that she will not do so. The Public Utilities Commission continues to publish a weekly comparison price list at http://www.hawaii.gov-/budget/puc/gascaps/.

ENERGY BILL BECOME LAW

The Governor also signed a law a bill to make the State less dependent on fossil fuels. Act 96 (HB 2175) will require that 20% of new state vehicles to be "energy efficient", instructs state agencies to maximize the usage of energy-saving contracts, and promotes the use of "green building" practices in future construction.

From Waialae-Kahala NHB Report #3, 5-18-06.