STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1253

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 400

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 400, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide for the expenses of the judicial branch of the State of Hawaii.

Specifically, this measure appropriates moneys for the Judiciary for the fiscal biennium that begins on July 1, 2025, and ends on June 30, 2027.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Department of Education, Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, The Legal Clinic, Hawaii State Bar Association, SanHi Government Strategies, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the appropriations made by this measure are intended to assist the Judiciary in its efforts to fulfill its constitutional and statutory duties during the 2025‑2027 fiscal biennium.

Your Committee recognizes the current efforts of the federal government to downsize or eliminate certain federal programs and to increase the number and rate of deportations. Your Committee further recognizes the potential impacts of these actions on people in Hawaii, including increased costs and adverse consequences for families and businesses. Accordingly, your Committee recommends that the Judiciary budget be amended by providing an additional $1,000,000 for civil legal services and $750,000 for legal services to individuals in immigration-related court proceedings.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Increasing the appropriation for Administration (JUD601) by $1,750,000;

(2) Providing for an unspecified sum to be expended by Administration (JUD601) for civil legal services;

(3) Providing for an unspecified sum to be expended by Administration (JUD601) for legal services for individuals in immigration-related proceedings in immigration court; and

(4) Changing the effective date to April 23, 2057, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

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 H.B. No. 400, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 400, 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 Judiciary,

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair