The legislative session can feel like an obstacle course, and while all bills have a long race to finish if they’re to become law, some have to jump over a hurdle or two more than others.
In Hawaii, we have two-year legislative sessions that always begin in odd-numbered years and end in even-numbered years. Since this is the second year of the biennium, any bills pending before the Legislature at the end of last year’s session carry over to this year’s session and are back in play. Carryover bills start this session with the same bill number and simply pick up where they left off; they do not have to begin the process all over again.
Your Honolulu County Republican Party will be watching numerous bills throughout the 2020 Legislative session, and you can too. We’ll be providing routine updates via email, but you can always come back here to check the latest status of a bill your concerned about. If we are not tracking a bill you believe we should be, don’t hesitate to contact us via email at info@oahugop.com.
If you are new to the legislative process check out our legislative training and informational guidance at:
BECOMING AN EFFECTIVE CITIZEN ACTIVIST
MEASURE TRACKING
The dynamic reports below allow you to see the bill we are monitoring. Each individual bill number in the report is also a link to the primary bill detail page so anyone viewing the report can instantly view the most current information. Everyone is encouraged to check back often to see the current status of bills we are monitoring.
HEARING NOTICES & TESTIMONY
Your voice and opinions are powerful. Your legislators were elected to represent your concerns. It is up to you to voice concerns and to make your voice heard. If you take the time to convey your thoughts to your elected officials and follow up with them, your message will have great impact, but everyone must get involved.
Testimony for legislative measures scheduled for hearing by the House or Senate should be delivered at least 24 hours prior to the hearing and may be submitted in person, by fax, or electronically as indicated on the hearing notice.
Testimony for legislative measures scheduled for hearing by the House or Senate may be submitted electronically through the Hawaii State Legislature’s website at www.capitol.hawaii.gov by clicking on the button marked “Submit Testimony” and following the on-screen instructions.
Testimony for legislative measures scheduled for hearing by the Senate may also be faxed to 586-6659 (Oahu) or 1-800-586-6659 (Neighbor Islands).
SENATE HEARING LATE TESTIMONY – Testimony received after the 24-hour deadline will be posted to the Capitol website within 24 hours after the hearing has adjourned and may be marked as “late”.
HOUSE HEARING LATE TESTIMONY – Staff will try to incorporate additional testimony received within 24 hours of the hearing if possible. The hearing committee will post testimony received “on-time” to the Capitol website at the beginning of the hearing. Testimony received after the 24-hour deadline may be marked as “late” but will be posted to the Capitol website as soon as possible following the hearing. Testimony submitted after the hearing will not be considered or posted.
LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR
MAR 16 – TRIPLE REFERRAL FILING (HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS) – All House Concurrent Resolutions (HCRs) referred to three or more committees must be filed so that they can be in their second-to-last committee by the following day. (Note: A referral to a joint committee counts as one committee referral.)
MAR 20 – SECOND LATERAL (BILLS) – All bills with multiple referrals must move to their final referral committee in the non-originating chamber by this date.
MAR 24 AND MAR 25 FIRST LATERAL FOR CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS – Concurrent resolutions require adoption in each chamber and are used to state the official position of the Legislature on an issue, or to request action formally without having to mandate it by law. All concurrent resolutions with multiple referrals must move to their final committee in the originating chamber by these dates: SCRs on March 24; HCRs on March 25.
APR 2 – FIRST CROSSOVER FOR CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS – Deadline for passing the single floor vote for adoption required for resolutions in order to move from the originating chamber to the other chamber.
APR 3 – SECOND DECKING (BILLS) – Deadline for bills that have been amended by the non-originating chamber to emerge from all their committees (with committee reports filed) and be submitted to the clerk of that chamber. This “decking” ensures a mandatory 48 hour opportunity for final review by the non-originating chamber’s members before third reading.
APR 9 – SECOND CROSSOVER (BILLS) – Deadline for bills to pass third reading in their non-originating chamber and to “cross back” to the originating chamber.
APR 9 – LAST DAY FOR THE ORIGINATING BODY TO DISAGREE WITH BILL AMENDMENTS – The deadline for the originating chamber to disagree with changes made to its bills by the other chamber. When the Senate and House disagree on a bill, members from each chamber can meet in a “conference” committee to reconcile their differences.
APR 14 – SECOND LATERAL (SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS) – All Senate Concurrent Resolutions (SCRs) with multiple referrals must move to their final committee in the non-originating chamber (House) by this date.
APR 20 – SECOND CROSSOVER FOR CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS – Deadline for passing amended concurrent resolutions in the non-originating chamber in order to “cross back” to the originating chamber.
APR 24 – DEADLINE FOR FINAL FORM OF BILLS PROPOSING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS – A proposed amendment’s final form must be provided by written notice to the Governor at least 10 days prior to passing final reading by a 2/3 vote in each chamber. Once adopted by the Legislature, the proposed amendment is submitted to the voters, in the form of a ‘yes or no’ question on the ballot, for ultimate decision.
APR 29 – FINAL DECKING OF NON-FISCAL BILLS – Deadline for submitting non-fiscal bills for final reading by both chambers.
APR 30 – FINAL DECKING OF FISCAL BILLS – Deadline for submitting fiscal bills for final reading by both chambers. Fiscal bills include appropriation or spending bills, tax credits, etc., or any bill with a House Finance or Senate Ways and Means referral.
MAY 7 – ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE – In Latin, “sine die” means “without a day specified for future meeting.” Adjournment sine die occurs on the 60th legislative day of a Regular Session and indicates a suspension of the business of the legislature indefinitely. Next, the Legislature will certify the bills whose form both chambers have agreed to, and will transmit or “enroll” those bills to the Governor. Contact PAR for information regarding the Governor’s deadlines.
