Bill > HB568

This bill requires the Office of Legislative Analyst in Hawaii to prepare comprehensive fiscal notes for all fiscal bills, addressing a current gap in the legislative process where lawmakers vote on measures without understanding their financial implications. The bill mandates that fiscal notes must include dollar amount effects, specify statutory provisions affected, estimate revenue or expenditure changes for state and county governments, detail absorbed costs, explain cost estimation assumptions, and outline long-term implications. Each fiscal note will be delivered to key legislative committee chairs and bill introducers, and no committee can make a decision on a fiscal bill without first receiving and reviewing a completed fiscal note. The bill also modifies the Office of Legislative Analyst's duties to include fiscal note preparation and requires all state and county departments to promptly provide necessary information for creating these notes. Additionally, the bill adjusts how the legislative analyst is appointed and compensated, stipulating that the legislature will select the analyst by majority vote in joint session and pay them at the same rate as the legislative reference bureau director. The legislation is supported by findings that 44 states already incorporate fiscal notes into their legislative processes to increase transparency, and it includes an appropriation of funds to support the office's expanded responsibilities, with the changes set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=568&year=2026