Bill > HB1236

This bill removes legislative branch staff from the list of employees who are excluded from collective bargaining units under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 89, effectively giving legislative employees the right to choose whether to unionize. The legislation amends existing law to add the president of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives as voting members in collective bargaining negotiations, with each having one vote if they have employees in a particular bargaining unit. The bill's purpose is to extend collective bargaining rights to legislative staff, following recent trends in other states like Maine, Oregon, and California that have similarly allowed legislative employees to unionize. The bill's legislative findings emphasize that granting public employees the right to participate in decision-making about wages and working conditions can make government more effective and responsive, and recognizes the constitutional right of public employees to organize for collective bargaining. Importantly, the bill does not mandate unionization but simply provides legislative staff with the option to collectively bargain if they choose to do so. The legislation will take effect immediately upon approval.

Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1236&year=2026