Bill > HB494

This bill repeals Section 92-10 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, which previously provided a special exemption for the legislative branch from standard open meetings laws. Currently, the existing law allows the Hawaii State Legislature to establish its own rules and procedures regarding open meetings, notice requirements, agendas, and minutes, which took precedence over the general open meetings regulations. By removing this section, the bill will subject the Legislature to the same open meetings requirements as other government bodies, ensuring greater transparency and public access to legislative proceedings. The bill would eliminate the Legislature's ability to create separate, potentially less stringent rules about meeting openness and would require legislators to follow the standard state open meetings protocols. The bill would take effect immediately upon approval, meaning the new open meetings standards would apply to the Legislature as soon as the bill is signed into law.

Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=494&year=2026