THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	218
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to public notice.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that posting notices electronically is more expedient and cost-effective than publishing notices on paper, particularly for routine but time‑sensitive situations. Clean water environmental hazard advisories and urgent conditions like disaster-related response and recovery activities may be posted more effectively online than in print.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to provide government agencies the option to publish notices via a posting on the agency's official website, in lieu of or in addition to publishing in a daily or weekly publication such as a printed newspaper.

However, the legislature affirms that under general rules of statutory construction, where two statutes conflict, the more specific statute is followed. As a result, since section 1‑28.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is a general statute, this Act is not intended to supersede procedures that, for example, assure transparency in public administration such as chapters 91 and 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 2. Section 1-28.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) Notwithstanding any other statute, law, charter provision, ordinance, or rule to the contrary, whenever a government agency is required to give public notice or to publish notice, the notice shall be given only as follows:

(1) For statewide publication:

(A) In a daily or weekly publication of statewide circulation; or

(B) By publication in separate daily or weekly publications whose combined circulation is statewide; [and]

(2) For county-wide publication, by publication in a daily or weekly publication in the affected county[.

Additional supplemental notice may also be given through Hawaii FYI, the State's interactive computer system.]; or

(3) For either statewide or county publication, as applicable, by posting on an electronic calendar on an official website for legal notices maintained by the State or appropriate county."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________
	By Request

Report Title:

City and County of Honolulu Package; Public Notice; Official Website

Description:

Allows government agencies to publish public notices on their official websites as an alternative to publishing them in the newspaper.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.