Bill > HB1425

This bill establishes a temporary working group to comprehensively study the potential transition of Hawaii's state legislature from its current three-and-a-half-month session to a year-round legislative model. The working group will be composed of diverse stakeholders, including legislators, government officials, and representatives from civic organizations like the League of Women Voters and Common Cause Hawaii. The group's primary responsibilities will include analyzing the financial implications of a year-round legislature, examining potential constitutional and statutory changes required for implementation, and studying how other states like California, Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania have successfully transitioned to continuous legislative sessions. The working group will specifically investigate operational costs, staffing requirements, legislative service modifications, and potential impacts on legislation. They are required to submit a comprehensive report with findings and recommendations to the legislature by late 2025, ahead of the 2026 legislative session. The Legislative Reference Bureau will provide administrative support and may hire contractors to assist in the study. The bill includes a fiscal appropriation to support the working group's activities and sets the working group's expiration date as June 30, 2026. The underlying motivation is to create a more deliberative legislative process, improve emergency response capabilities, and allow more thorough community engagement and bill development.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1425&year=2026