Legislature to Reconvene on June 22

News Release from House Democratic Caucus, June 9, 2020

House Speaker Scott K. Saiki today announced that the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives will reconvene the 2020 legislative session on Monday, June 22, 2020.

The Legislature will take up a limited number of bills, including budget matters and COVID-19-related legislation.

“The House and Senate are reconvening the session to address several pressing issues that are outstanding, including the budget and any COVID-19-related and emergency-type bills,” said Speaker Saiki. "We are working with our committee chairs to prioritize legislation that must be enacted."

The chairs of the House Judiciary and Labor and Public Employment committees are expected to consider police reform measures, such as HB 285 (requiring the disclosure of the identity of a police officer upon suspension or discharge of the officer).

The State Capitol will be closed to the general public to conform with state and federal recommendations for physical distancing and avoiding large gatherings. The public will have an opportunity to submit written testimony and to observe proceedings through livestream.

Legislators and legislative staff will be allowed into the Capitol through a single entrance where everyone will be under a temperature check. Masks must be worn in all public spaces, physical distancing rules will be mandatory, and anyone exhibiting signs of illness will be denied entry into the Capitol.

All House floor sessions and some committee hearings will be televised on ‘Olelo Community Television and live-streamed at https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/broadcasts.aspx. Check olelo.org/ or www.capitol.hawaii.gov for the broadcast schedule.

The Legislature recessed on March 21 due to the pandemic, reconvened on May 11, and recessed for a second time on May 22. The session is expected to adjourn sine die on July 10.

For more information, go to https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/

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SA: Hawaii State Legislature reconvening June 22

there is also interest in taking up police discipline legislation, and most specifically House Bill 285, which would require the state’s four county police departments to identify to the Legislature the names of officers suspended or discharged.

CB: Major proposals such as increasing minimum wage likely won’t be doable

The budget situation has meant lawmakers must reshuffle their priorities, and will likely forego passing a joint package touted by the House, Senate and Ige in January.

Among those measures that won’t pass includes House Bill 2541, which would have provided $75 million worth of tax relief for low-income families and raised the minimum wage to $13 an hour. An affordable housing omnibus measure that also sought to deregulate some land use laws may also not pass.

However, House Majority Leader Della Au Belatti said the legislators are trying to find a way to keep several education bills that deal with pre-K education alive. Some funding for affordable housing was also included in the state’s $5 billion capital improvements plan.

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AP: Pandemic budget crunch leaves Hawaii with unpleasant options