Bill > HB296

This bill enhances the role of the Office of Legislative Analyst in Hawaii by requiring the office to produce comprehensive fiscal notes for all fiscal bills, which will increase transparency in the legislative process. The bill mandates that fiscal notes must include specific details such as the dollar amount impact, affected statutory provisions, estimated revenue or expenditure changes, potential absorbed costs, underlying assumptions, and long-range implications. Importantly, no legislative committee will be allowed to make a decision on a fiscal bill without first receiving and reviewing a completed fiscal note. The bill also modifies how the legislative analyst is appointed, now requiring a majority vote of each house in joint session, and sets the analyst's salary to match the legislative reference bureau director's salary. Additionally, the bill requires all state and county departments, agencies, and educational institutions to cooperate fully by providing necessary information for preparing fiscal notes, which must be made publicly available and attached to committee reports. To support these new requirements, the bill appropriates funds for the Office of Legislative Analyst's operations and sets the effective date as July 1, 2025, reflecting the legislature's aim to improve fiscal transparency and informed decision-making in the state's legislative process.

Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=296&year=2025