MAKING APPROPRIATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENSES OF THE LEGISLATURE, THE AUDITOR, THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU, THE OMBUDSMAN, AND THE ETHICS COMMISSION.

Budget

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: NAKAMURA
Last action: 2026-03-23
Official status: Act 001, on 03/20/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1101).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact dollar figures for each agency's funding are not specified in the summary text.

Budget for State Agencies

This law sets aside money from the state budget to cover costs for several government offices, including the Legislature, Auditor's Office, Legislative Reference Bureau, Ombudsman's Office, and Ethics Commission.

What This Bill Does

Appropriates funds to provide for the expenses of the Senate up to June 30, 2027.
Allocates funds to cover costs for the House of Representatives until June 30, 2027.
Provides funding for the Auditor's Office during fiscal year 2026-2027.
Funds the Legislative Reference Bureau for their expenses in fiscal year 2026-2027.
Appropriates funds to cover expenses of the Ombudsman's Office during fiscal year 2026-2027.
Allocates money for the State Ethics Commission’s costs in fiscal year 2026-2027.

Who It Names or Affects

The Senate and House of Representatives receive funding to cover their expenses.
The Auditor's Office gets money for its operations.
The Legislative Reference Bureau is funded for its work.
The Ombudsman's Office receives funds for its activities.
The State Ethics Commission is provided with budget support.

Terms To Know

appropriations: Money set aside by the government to pay for specific projects or services.
fiscal year: A period of one year used for budgeting and financial reporting, often starting on July 1st and ending on June 30th.

Limits and Unknowns

The exact amount spent by each agency depends on their specific needs.
Some funds are set to expire if not used by a certain date.
This law only covers expenses up until June 30, 2027.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: The amendment allocates specific amounts from state general revenues to cover various expenses related to legislative bodies and offices in Hawaii.

Allocates $13,045,166 for the Senate's expenses up to June 30, 2027, including session and non-session costs, legislative information system expenses, and broadcasting program costs.
Allocates $17,808,628 for the House of Representatives' expenses up to June 30, 2027, covering similar categories as those for the Senate.
Specifies that interim session expenses must be approved by the president of the senate or the speaker of the house.

The text is truncated and does not provide complete information about all appropriations, so some details are missing.

Bill History

2026-03-23 H
Act 001, on 03/20/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1101).
2026-03-23 S
Act 001, 03/20/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1101).
2026-03-06 H
Transmitted to Governor.
2026-03-06 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 30).
2026-03-06 S
Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-05 S
One Day Notice 3/06/2026.
2026-03-05 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading.
2026-03-05 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2816) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
2026-03-02 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-27 S
The committee(s) on WAM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-02-26 10:00AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-24 S
Referred to WAM.
2026-02-24 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-02-24 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 3).
2026-02-23 H
Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Souza voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-02-20 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-02-20 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 763-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
2026-02-19 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-17 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 02-19-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-30 H
Referred to FIN, referral sheet 5
2026-01-28 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-26 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENSES OF THE LEGISLATURE, THE AUDITOR, THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU, THE OMBUDSMAN, AND THE ETHICS COMMISSION.
Legislative Agencies; Appropriations ($)
Appropriates funds to provide for the expenses of the Legislature, Auditor, Legislative Reference Bureau, Ombudsman, and Ethics Commission. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2240

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2240

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENSES OF THE
LEGISLATURE, THE AUDITOR, THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU, THE OMBUDSMAN, AND
THE ETHICS COMMISSION
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $13,045,166 or so much thereof as
may be necessary to the senate for the following expenses:

����
(1)
�
The sum of $11,646,694 for defraying any and
all session and nonsession expenses of the senate up to and including June 30,
2027, including the 2026 regular session, thirty-third legislature of the State
of Hawaii, and pre-session expenses and the expenses of any committee or
committees established during the interim between the 2026 and 2027 regular
sessions;

����
(2)
�
The sum of $1,273,855 for defraying the
expenses of the legislative information system for cost items such as hardware,
software, consultants, installation, materials, supplies, and other related
costs associated with the legislative information system that have been or will
be incurred; and

����
(3)
�
The sum of $124,616 for defraying the cost of
the legislative broadcasting program to pay for the production and distribution
of broadcasts of legislative proceedings, including but not limited to
television broadcast, live streaming, and internet platforms for public access.

����
The sum
appropriated in this section shall be expended by the senate.

����
SECTION 2.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $17,808,628 or so much thereof as
may be necessary to the house of representatives for the following expenses:

����
(1)
�
The sum of $16,644,520 for defraying any and
all session and nonsession expenses of the house of representatives up to and
including June 30, 2027, including the 2026 regular session, thirty-third
legislature of the State of Hawaii, and pre-session expenses and the expenses
of any committee or committees established during the interim between the 2026
and 2027 regular sessions;

����
(2)
�
The sum of $1,039,492 for defraying the
expenses of the legislative information system for cost items such as hardware,
software, consultants, installation, materials, supplies, and other related
costs associated with the legislative information system that have been or will
be incurred; and

����
(3)
�
The sum of $124,616 for defraying the cost of
the legislative broadcasting program to pay for the production and distribution
of broadcasts of legislative proceedings, including but not limited to
television broadcast, live streaming, and internet platforms for public access.

����
The sum
appropriated in this section shall be expended by the house of representatives.

����
SECTION 3.
�
Payment of expenses of the senate during the
interim between the 2026 and 2027 regular sessions shall be made only with the
approval of the president of the senate, and payment of expenses of the house
of representatives during the interim between the 2026 and 2027 regular
sessions shall be made only with the approval of the speaker of the house of
representatives.

����
SECTION 4.
�
Before January 20, 2027, the senate and the
house of representatives shall each have their accounts audited, and a full
report of the respective audits shall be presented to the senate and house of
representatives convening on January 20, 2027.

����
SECTION 5.
�
Unless otherwise prescribed by law, the
expenses of any member of the legislature while traveling abroad on official
business of the legislature shall be $145 a day as authorized by the president
of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives.

����
SECTION 6.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $3,923,712 or so much thereof as may
be necessary to the office of the auditor for the following expenses:

����
(1)
�
The sum of $3,773,712 for defraying the
expenses of the office of the auditor during fiscal year 2026‑2027; and

����
(2)
�
The sum of $150,000 during fiscal year 2026-2027
for:

���������
(A)
�
Performing special studies;

���������
(B)
�
Improving capabilities for planning,
programming, and budgeting;

���������
(C)
�
Fulfilling other special requests made of the
auditor by the legislature or jointly by the president of the senate and the
speaker of the house of representatives;

���������
(D)
�
Legislative studies and contractual services
for those studies; and

���������
(E)
�
Such other purposes as may be determined by
the joint action of the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of
representatives.

����
The sum
appropriated in this section shall be expended by the auditor.

����
SECTION 7.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,800,000 or so much thereof as may
be necessary to the office of the auditor during fiscal year 2026-2027 to be
deposited into the audit revolving fund established pursuant to section 23-3.6,
Hawaii Revised Statutes.

����
SECTION 8.
�
There is appropriated out of the audit
revolving fund the sum of $6,800,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary to
the office of the auditor during fiscal year 2026-2027 for the office to
conduct or complete its audit functions as provided by law.

����
The sum
appropriated in this section shall be expended by the auditor.

����
SECTION 9.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $4,791,670 or so much thereof as may
be necessary to the legislative reference bureau for defraying the expenses of
the legislative reference bureau during fiscal year 2026-2027, including
equipment relating to computer systems programming and operations.

����
The sum
appropriated in this section shall be expended by the legislative reference
bureau.

����
SECTION 10.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,744,123 or so much thereof as may
be necessary to the office of the ombudsman for defraying the expenses of the
office during fiscal year 2026‑2027.

����
The sum
appropriated in this section shall be expended by the ombudsman.

����
SECTION 11.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,755,348 or so much thereof as may
be necessary to the office of the state ethics commission for defraying the
expenses of the office during fiscal year 2026-2027.

����
The sum
appropriated in this section shall be expended by the state ethics commission.

����
SECTION 12.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the following sums or so much thereof as may be
necessary to be expended for the purpose of accrued vacation payments and
vacation transfer payments for any employee leaving the employ of the senate,
house of representatives, office of the auditor, legislative reference bureau,
office of the ombudsman, and state ethics commission:

����
Expending Agency
���������������������������
Amount

����
Senate
�����������������������������������
$
295,000

����
House
of Representatives
������������������
$
354,607

����
Office
of the Auditor
����������������������
$
68,106

����
Legislative
Reference Bureau
��������������
$
100,780

����
Office
of the Ombudsman
��������������������
$
84,035

����
State
Ethics Commission
��������������������
$
16,553

provided
that the appropriate expending agency shall first make payments from the
vacation payout allocation before expending funds from turnover and vacancy
amounts; provided further that any unexpended funds shall lapse to the general
fund on June 30, 2027.

����
SECTION 13.
�
As of the close of business on June 30, 2027,
the unexpended or unencumbered balance of any appropriation made by this Act
shall lapse into the general fund.

����
SECTION 14.
�
Each section of this Act is declared to be
severable from the remainder of this Act.

����
SECTION 15.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Legislative
Agencies; Appropriations

Description:

Appropriates
funds to provide for the expenses of the Legislature, Auditor, Legislative
Reference Bureau, Ombudsman, and Ethics Commission.

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