It's official -- the deadlines have all passed. There are 288 new laws as the result of the 2013 Regular Session. That's 10% of all of the bills introduced (2,872), which is a bit higher than the usual percentage. Visit the Reports and Lists page on the Legislature's website to access: Acts Bills signed by the Governor Bills that became... Read More 2013 Session Laws...
The legislators are meeting to come up with the final form of bills to send off to the governor. Here are a few resources to help make it easier to follow things during conference. The Public Access Room has a new information sheet that provides an overview to conference. It's creatively titled, "Conference Committee Information," and can be found on... Read More It’s Conference Time...
The budget worksheets have been posted on the Legislature's website. (On the right-hand side of the page, select "Legislative Information" and then the "Budget Worksheets" for 2013.) The worksheets provide detail and explanation of the changes made from the previous version of the bills. Interested in the changes the House made to the Executive Budget submitted by the Governor? Click... Read More Budget Worksheets are Posted...
To help make sense of the budget discussions next week, the Public Access Room's posted its latest information sheet -- Budget Overview. Budget Decking is Monday, March 11th, and Budget Crossover is Wednesday, March 13th. (Check out the 2013 Session Calendar for other upcoming deadlines.) Read More Diving into the Budget...
The incredibly handy, pocket-sized “Hawaii Directory of Public Officials 2013″ (which lists contact information for Hawaii's legislators) is here. And once again its publisher, the Hawaii Institute of Public Affairs (HIPA), has generously provided the Public Access Room with an ample supply for distribution to our patrons. And this year, they’ve provided a mobile app as well. Come on by (Room 401, State Capitol)... Read More The HIPA Booklets Have Arrived...
The election's pau! At the Capitol, legislators are getting organized and into their offices. The Senate has elected leadership and formed committees. We're still waiting for the House to publish all the leadership positions and committees. Meanwhile, where do you go to find the latest contact information? Visit the Legislature's website and click on the "Legislators" icon. Read More Who’s where?...
The House and Senate have posted their joint 2012 Conference Procedures on the Legislature's homepage. Have questions about this stage of the process? Feel free to contact the Public Access Room at [email protected] or 808/587-0478. Read More Welcome to Conference...
We've just passed a major deadline -- First Crossover. The majority of bills introduced will have failed to make it this far, and you can access a quick report that will show you the bills that have survived, their current descriptions and status. It's a great time to scan what's still alive to make sure you're aware of the legislation that's... Read More First Crossover. What’s Survived?...
The booklets have arrived. The incredibly handy, pocket-sized “Hawaii Directory of Public Officials 2012″ (which lists contact information for Hawaii's legislators) is here. And once again its publisher, the Hawaii Institute of Public Affairs (HIPA), has generously provided the Public Access Room with an ample supply for distribution to our patrons. Come on by (Room 401, State Capitol) and pick up a copy —... Read More They’re in!...
The Public Access Room’s (PAR’s) November 2011 newsletter walks you through the changes to the Hawaii State Legislature’s website, and highlights the new features. Take a moment and explore the changes now, before the Session starts up in January. It's available on the PAR website. And remember, PAR’s there to help – don’t hesitate to call (808/587-0478) or email ([email protected])! Read More PAR’s November Newsletter — A Guide to the Legislature’s Website...