HB 1239 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL.

Summary

Authorizes the Hawaiian Homes Commission to retain independent legal counsel, with any legal fees owed to be paid by the State, and also use the services of the Attorney General as needed. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Last action Feb 10, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB1239 → HB1239_HD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill authorizes the Hawaiian Homes Commission to hire its own independent legal counsel, with the State of Hawaii covering the legal fees. The bill also allows the commission to continue using the Attorney General's services when needed. This change addresses the commission's unique history and trust responsibilities to native Hawaiians by ensuring it has dedicated legal representation for its specific mission.

Scope change

The bill expands the legal authority of the Hawaiian Homes Commission to retain independent counsel, while maintaining the ability to utilize the Attorney General's services when appropriate.

ELIGIBILITY

Added explicit authorization for the Hawaiian Homes Commission to retain independent legal counsel

Modified existing statutes to clarify that the Hawaiian Homes Commission is an exception to the general rule that departments must use the Attorney General for legal representation

FISCAL

Established that legal fees for independent counsel retained by the Hawaiian Homes Commission will be paid by the State

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from immediate approval to July 1, 3000 (likely a placeholder date)

Floor votes · House Feb 10, 2025

How they voted

47–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 51

Feb 10, 2025

D Democratic41

39 Yea 2

95% Yea

R Republican10

8 Yea 2

80% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 10, 2025

Committee

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 284) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 10, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (47-0-4)

house

Jan 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Todd.

lower

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 4

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 22, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

14 primary · 0 co-sponsors