The Revision of Statutes Division annually publishes the Session Laws of Hawaii and supplements to the Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS). The Division publishes replacement volumes to the Hawaii Revised Statutes as needed.

Law Review

The Revision of Statutes Division reviews the laws that are enacted during each legislative session and incorporates the laws in two annual publications: the Session Laws of Hawaii, which compiles the laws enacted and constitutional amendments proposed; and the supplements to the HRS, which codifies laws of a general and permanent nature. Indexes are prepared for both publications. The Division also periodically publishes replacement volumes to the HRS. The Division prepares a revision bill for each regular legislative session to delete obsolete provisions and correct errors and references in the HRS and Session Laws of Hawaii. In addition to its work with the state statutes, the Division also reviews administrative rules for conformance with format guidelines.


Publications

Hawaii Revised Statutes

The HRS comprises the statutes of Hawaii, consolidated, revised, and annotated. The HRS was enacted in 1968. Replacement volumes have been published in 1976, 1985, and 1993. The 1993 replacement volumes incorporate all the laws of a general and permanent nature enacted by the Legislature since the publication of the 1985 volumes through the 1993 regular and special sessions. Subsequently, volumes of the HRS have been replaced on a volume-by-volume basis. The HRS also contains the Constitution of the United States, the act creating the Hawaii National Park, the Organic Act, the Admission Act, the State Constitution, and the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. The HRS is updated with an annual supplement and index. A cumulative replacement index is published when necessary, the last being published in 1996.

Session Laws of Hawaii

The Session Laws of Hawaii contains the text of laws enacted and constitutional amendments proposed by the Legislature during each regular and special session; committee report numbers on measures enacted and proposed constitutional amendments; tables showing the effect of acts on sections of the HRS, Session Laws of Hawaii, Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, and State Constitution; and an index.

The Hawaii Administrative Rules Table of Statutory Sections Implemented and Directory

The Table enables users to tell at a glance whether state agencies have adopted rules that purport to implement statutory sections. The Directory sets forth all of the chapters of rules adopted or repealed by each department, much like a table of contents. This publication is updated annually.

Hawaii Administrative Rules Drafting Manual

This Manual is designed as a guide for individuals engaged in formulating, drafting, and processing administrative rules. It contains the Hawaii Administrative Rules format mandated by section 91-4.2, HRS, and presents background to administrative rulemaking and the establishment of the Hawaii Administrative Rules format. The Manual was last published in 2016.

Attorney General Opinions Digest

This digest compiles a list of AG Opinions issued since 1985. A short synopsis of each opinion is also included. This publication is updated annually. Full text copies of the opinions from 1955+ can be found on the library’s catalog.