THE 2015 SESSION CALENDAR: A GUIDE TO THE DEADLINES

News Release from LRB January, 2015

JAN 21 OPENING DAY – Hawaii’s constitution mandates that the regular legislative session starts at 10:00 a.m. on the third Wednesday of January.

JAN 23 LAST DAY TO INTRODUCE ALL NON-ADMINISTRATION BILL PACKAGES – Bills bundled together by common interest groups and accepted and labeled as a package by the clerks.

JAN 26 STATE-OF-THE-STATE ADDRESS – The Governor’s annual address to the assembled joint legislature. The address presents an opportunity for the Governor to report on affairs of state, and to put forth recommendations and initiatives. Many visitors come to the Capitol to hear the Governor’s speech and witness the proceedings from the gallery (accessible on the ground floor/atrium level).

& LAST DAY TO INTRODUCE ADMINISTRATION BILL PACKAGE – This is what is known as the “Governor’s Package.” The bills are prepared by executive branch agencies for consideration by the legislature, and are introduced on behalf of the executive branch by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

JAN 28 STATE-OF-THE-JUDICIARY ADDRESS – The Chief Justice's address to the assembled joint legislature. The address presents an opportunity to report on the judicial branch of government, and to put forth recommendations and initiatives.

JAN 29 LAST DAY TO INTRODUCE BILLS – A bill is “introduced” when it has been filed with the House or Senate Clerk, who gives it a number (with an HB or SB prefix) and then puts it on the calendar for First Reading by the chamber. After First Reading, it is given its committee referrals which specify which committees must hear and pass the measure for it to succeed. Only legislators may introduce bills. [Note: At introduction, each bill is given a “Bill Status” webpage that can be accessed via the Legislature’s website (www.capitol.hawaii.gov) and used to track all the measure’s activity.]

JAN 30 LAST DAY FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO SUBMIT GRANT AND SUBSIDY REQUESTS – “Grant” refers to an award of appropriated state funds by the legislature to a specified recipient to support activities that benefit the community. Also known as “Grant-in-Aid.” “Subsidy” refers to a similar award to a recipient to reduce the costs incurred in providing a service to members of the public.

FEB 12 TRIPLE REFERRAL FILING – All bills referred to three or more committees must be in their second-to-last committee by this date. (Note: A referral to a joint committee counts as one committee referral.) This deadline allows ample time for successful bills to make their way to the last committee in their originating chamber by the First Lateral deadline.

FEB 20 FIRST LATERAL (BILLS) – All bills referred to more than one committee (i.e., those with multiple referrals) must move to their final committee in the originating chamber by this day.

FEB 26-MAR 4 MANDATORY 5-DAY RECESS – Hawaii’s Constitution mandates a 5 day recess between the 20th and 40th days of the regular session. Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate convene or assemble formally in chamber on recess days. Committee hearings do take place, however.

MAR 6 FIRST DECKING FOR NON-FISCAL BILLS – All bills under consideration for crossover to the other chamber must be submitted to the clerk of the originating chamber in their final form at least 48 hours prior to third reading. This “decking” ensures an opportunity for final review by the chamber’s members before being asked to vote on the third reading. Note: A bill must pass three readings in each chamber before being enrolled to the governor.

MAR 12 FIRST CROSSOVER FOR NON-FISCAL BILLS – Deadline for bills to pass third reading in order to move (or “crossover”) to the other chamber. If successful, House bills are sent to the Senate and Senate bills are sent to the House for further consideration.

MAR 13 LAST DAY TO INTRODUCE SUBSTANTIVE RESOLUTIONS – Resolutions are legislative measures which may request action of a government entity or state the legislature’s position on an issue. They don’t have the force and effect of law, require only one reading in chamber, and are not enrolled to the Governor.

MAR 16 BUDGET DECKING – Deadline for submitting the spending plan developed by the Governor which estimates expenditures for the fiscal year or biennium and the proposed means of financing these expenditures.

MAR 18 BUDGET CROSSOVER – Last day for third reading of budget bills in order to move to the other chamber.

MAR 19 TRIPLE REFERRAL FILING – All bills referred to three or more committees must be in their second-to-last committee in the non-originating chamber by this date. (Note: A referral to a joint committee counts as one committee referral.) This deadline allows ample time for successful bills to make their way to their last committee by the Second Lateral deadline.

MAR 27 SECOND LATERAL (BILLS) – All bills with multiple referrals must move to their final referral committee in the non-originating chamber by this date.

MAR 31 FIRST LATERAL FOR CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS – Concurrent resolutions require adoption in each chamber and are used to state the official position of the Legislature on an issue, or to request action formally without having to mandate it by law. All concurrent resolutions with multiple referrals must move to their final committee in the originating chamber by this date.

APR 9 FIRST CROSSOVER FOR CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS – Deadline for passing the single reading required for resolutions in order to move from the originating chamber to the other chamber.

APR 10 SECOND DECKING (BILLS) – Deadline for submitting bills that have been amended by the non-originating chamber to the clerk of that chamber. This allows for delivery of the amended bills in their final form to the chamber’s members at least 48 hours prior to third reading.

APR 16 SECOND CROSSOVER (BILLS) – Deadline for bills to pass third reading in their non-originating chamber in order to “cross back” to the originating chamber.

& LAST DAY FOR THE ORIGINATING BODY TO DISAGREE WITH BILL AMENDMENTS – The deadline for the originating chamber to disagree with changes made to its bills by the other chamber. When the Senate and House disagree on a bill, members from each chamber can meet in a “conference” committee to reconcile their differences.

APR 24 DEADLINE FOR FINAL FORM OF BILLS PROPOSING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS – A proposed amendment’s final form must be provided by written notice to the Governor at least 10 days prior to passing final reading by a 2/3 vote in each chamber. Once adopted by the Legislature, the proposed amendment is submitted to the voters, in the form of a ‘yes or no’ question on the ballot, for ultimate decision.

APR 27 SECOND CROSSOVER FOR CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS – Deadline for passing concurrent resolutions in the non-originating chamber in order to “cross back” to the originating chamber.

APR 30 FINAL DECKING OF NON-FISCAL BILLS – Deadline for submitting non-fiscal bills for final reading by both chambers.

MAY 1 FINAL DECKING OF FISCAL BILLS – Deadline for submitting fiscal bills for final reading by both chambers. Fiscal bills include appropriation or spending bills, tax credits, etc. that emerge from the fiscal committee of their respective originating chamber (Finance in the House, Ways and Means in the Senate).

MAY 7 ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE – In Latin, “sine die” means “without a day.” Adjournment sine die occurs on the 60th legislative day of a regular session, and indicates a suspension of the business of the legislature indefinitely. From this point, the Legislature will certify bills whose form both chambers have agreed to, and will transmit or “enroll” those bills to the Governor.

For additional information, please call or email the Public Access Room (PAR) at 808/587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov

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