SB 2343 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE LEGISLATURE.

Summary

Establishes a Regular Session Review Working Group to determine the essential timing and effective framework for a lengthened legislative session calendar for election and non-election years. Requires the Working Group to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature before the convening of the Regular Session of 2028. Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to assist the Working Group in finalizing its report and drafting any proposed legislation. Appropriates fund. Effective 7/1/2525. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Last action Feb 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2343 → SB2343_SD1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill shifted from requiring a one-time study on a continuous legislative calendar to establishing a permanent 'Regular Session Review Working Group' tasked with designing a specific lengthened session calendar. This new group includes legislators, the Attorney General, and other officials to analyze costs, legal constraints, and operational impacts before making recommendations. The legislation appropriates $200,000 total ($100,000 each to the Senate and House) to fund this working group's meetings and operations.

Scope change

The scope expanded from a single study by the Legislative Reference Bureau to a standing working group with broad representation from the legislature, legal counsel, and external stakeholders to develop a concrete legislative calendar proposal.

REQUIREMENT

Established a new 'Regular Session Review Working Group' with specific members including the Senate President, House Speaker, Attorney General, Comptroller, and election officials to design a lengthened session calendar.

Removed the requirement for the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a standalone study on continuous calendars, replacing it with the new working group's mandate.

TIMELINE

Changed the deadline for submitting findings from the original 2027 session to the convening of the 2028 regular session.

FISCAL

Appropriated $100,000 to the Senate and $100,000 to the House of Representatives to fund the new working group's meetings and operations.

DEFINITION

Defined 'lengthened regular session' as any session significantly longer than the typical January-to-May timeframe.

ENFORCEMENT

Added exemptions for the working group from certain state statutes regarding contracting services and legislative rules.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Reported from GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2411) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Hashimoto, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Moriwaki.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 02-03-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to GVO, WAM.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 15, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors