HB1440

SECTION 1. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 has already been exceeded by $8,551,796, or 1.0 per cent. The appropriations contained in sections 2, 3, and 13 of this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be further exceeded by $30,334,159, or 1.0 per cent. This declaration takes into account the additional general fund appropriations authorized for fiscal year 2024‑2025 in this Act only. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

(1) The appropriations made in this Act are necessary to serve the public interest; and

(2) The appropriations made in this Act meet the needs addressed by this Act.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $12,483,412 or so much thereof as may be necessary to the senate for the following expenses:

(1) The sum of $11,145,162 for defraying any and all session and nonsession expenses of the senate up to and including June 30, 2026, including the 2025 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 2025 and 2026 regular sessions;

(2) The sum of $1,219,000 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 $119,250 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 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $17,041,749 or so much thereof as may be necessary to the house of representatives for the following expenses:

(1) The sum of $15,927,770 for defraying any and all session and nonsession expenses of the house of representatives up to and including June 30, 2026, including the 2025 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 2025 and 2026 regular sessions;

(2) The sum of $994,729 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

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

SECTION 4. Payment of expenses of the senate during the interim between the 2025 and 2026 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 2025 and 2026 regular sessions shall be made only with the approval of the speaker of the house of representatives.

SECTION 5. Before January 21, 2026, 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 21, 2026.

SECTION 6. 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 7. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $6,561,208 or so much thereof as may be necessary to the office of the auditor for the following expenses:

(1) The sum of $3,611,208 for defraying the expenses of the office of the auditor during fiscal year 2025‑2026; and

(2) The sum of $150,000 during fiscal year 2025-2026 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 8. 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 2025-2026 to be deposited into the audit revolving fund established pursuant to section 23-3.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 9. 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 2025-2026 for the office to conduct or complete its audit functions as provided by law.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the auditor.

SECTION 10. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $4,585,330 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 2025-2026, including equipment relating to computer systems programming and operations.

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

SECTION 11. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,669,017 or so much thereof as may be necessary to the office of the ombudsman for defraying the expenses of the office during fiscal year 2025‑2026.

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

SECTION 12. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,679,759 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 2025-2026.

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

SECTION 13. 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 $245,000

House of Representatives $294,524

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; and provided further that any unexpended funds shall lapse to the general fund on June 30, 2026.

SECTION 14. As of the close of business on June 30, 2026, the unexpended or unencumbered balance of any appropriation made by this Act shall lapse into the general fund.

SECTION 15. Each section of this Act is declared to be severable from the remainder of this Act.

SECTION 16. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1440
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII