STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3341

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2469

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 2469, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A REGULAR SESSION REVIEW WORKING GROUP,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a Regular Session Review Working Group to determine the essential timing and effective framework for a lengthened legislative calendar for election and non-election years;

(2) Require a report to the Legislature;

(3) Require report finalization and drafting assistance from the Legislative Reference Bureau; and

(4) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Imua Alliance and one individual.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the State Procurement Office, Office of Information Practices, and Legislative Reference Bureau.

Your Committee finds that, in response to House Concurrent Resolution No. 138, H.D. 1, S.D. 1 (2024), the Legislative Reference Bureau (Bureau) submitted to the Legislature a report of a study on the potential impact of changing the State's legislative calendar. While the Bureau's report provided much needed insight, it also provided recommendations for a more refined assessment of the feasibility and cost of establishing a new legislative calendar. This measure will analyze and complete the research already conducted by the Bureau, helping the Legislature to make the most informed and publicly beneficial decision regarding its operational schedule.

Your Committee finds that a more continuous legislative framework would facilitate improved planning, analysis, and coordination across the legislative process, and therefore, a year-round legislature is the most suitable approach to ensure more thorough deliberation, transparency, and responsiveness. Your Committee further finds that the development of a year-round legislative framework requires formalized planning, sustained engagement, and the preparation of a comprehensive plan to be considered and adopted by both houses of the Legislature. These matters are solely within the purview of the legislative branch, thereby necessitating the working group to be composed of members of the legislature to ensure accountability and alignment with legislative priorities. Your Committee also finds it essential that the working group receive input from legislative staff, legislative service agencies, the executive branch, and the public to adequately consider the impacts of a year-round Legislature across government and the public. Therefore, amendments to this measure are necessary to reflect these findings.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the purpose of the Regular Session Working Group proposed by this measure is to develop a comprehensive plan and make recommendations to the Legislature on the adoption of an effective year-round legislative session calendar;

(2) Charging the membership of the Regular Session Review Working Group to include:

(A) The Senate President, or their designee;

(B) The Speaker of the House of Representatives, or their designee;

(C) Two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate President;

(D) Two members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(E) The Majority Leaders of both houses of the Legislature, or their designees; and

(F) The Minority Leaders of both houses of the Legislature, or their designees.

(3) Inserting language establishing a Technical Advisory Committee that shall operate solely in an advisory capacity to the Regular Session Review Working Group on issues relating to the adoption and operation of a year-round legislative session calendar, including but not limited to campaign activities, elections, ethics, costs, staffing, and security considerations;

(4) Inserting language requiring the members of the Technical Advisory Committee to include:

(A) The Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee;

(B) The Comptroller, or the Comptroller's designee;

(C) The Chief Clerks of both houses of the Legislature, or the Chief Clerks' designees;

(D) The Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau, or the Director's designee;

(E) The Chief Election Officer, or the Chief Election Officer's designee; and

(F) The Chair of the State Ethics Commission, or the Chair's designee;

(5) Inserting language authorizing members of the Technical Advisory Committee to invite other persons whose technical expertise may assist in advising the Regular Session Review Working Group in fulfilling its duties to serve as committee members;

(6) Inserting language exempting the Technical Advisory Committee from part I of chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(7) Specifying the duties of the Regular Session Review Working Group;

(8) Clarifying that the Regular Session Review Working Group, rather than the Co-Chairs of the Regular Session Review Working Group, may contract the services of a qualified facilitator to facilitate its meetings if the members deem it appropriate;

(9) Inserting language requiring the Regular Session Review Working Group to submit an interim report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature for public comment and feedback no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027;

    (10) Specifying that the Regular Session Review Working Group shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2028;

    (11) Deleting language that would have exempted the Regular Session Review Working Group from part I of chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as it is now exempt by operation of law;

    (12) Inserting a blank appropriation amount for the Technical Advisory Committee to contract for the services of a facilitator for its meetings;

    (13) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

    (14) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

Your Committee notes that this measure, as amended, contains appropriations for unspecified amounts. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider inserting appropriate amounts or removing the appropriations, as necessary.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2469, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2469, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,

________________________________

ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair