Bill > SR55

This Resolution commits the Hawaii State Legislature to permanently adopt rules that enhance public access to the legislative process by allowing for virtual testimony, recording legislative hearings, and broadcasting these hearings over the internet, extending these practices beyond periods of emergency events like the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution acknowledges that Hawaii's island geography makes it difficult for many residents to attend hearings in person, and that the pandemic demonstrated the effectiveness of remote participation technologies in enabling broader engagement, including for individuals with health concerns or work/school commitments, and that these measures are consistent with the State's sunshine law, which governs open meetings.