STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2155

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2380

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2380 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH A CONTINUOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to propose amendments to the Hawaii State Constitution to establish a continuous legislative session, beginning in January 2031.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Outdoor Circle, Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action, Imua Alliance, and four individuals.

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

Your Committee finds that the Legislature is in session for only sixty session days per year, generally from the middle of January until early May. In the past several years, the State has experienced several emergency crises that highlight the need for faster or more flexible responses, including the Red Hill fuel leak, COVID-19, and the 2023 Maui wildfires. Your Committee further finds that thousands of bills are introduced each year. However, many do not receive full consideration under the existing framework, with more than half of all legislation introduced at the beginning of each regular session being deferred or not scheduled for a hearing. The amendments proposed by this measure will allow the Legislature to be more flexible to meet the needs of the State while also improving the Legislature's efficiency and productivity.

Your Committee notes that during the hearing on this measure, one of your Committee's members moved to amend this measure to require the Legislature's meetings be held in each of the twenty‑five senatorial districts, rather than exclusively at the Hawaii State Capitol. This motion was seconded by another member of your Committee, but the motion failed upon the vote of the full Committee membership.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2380 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair