Budget & Taxes (Audits & Accountability)

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SCR 111: REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF NO-BID CONTRACTS ISSUED BY STATE AND COUNTY AGENCIES UNDER PROCLAMATIONS DECLARING STATES OF EMERGENCY DURING THE SIX-YEAR PERIOD BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2020, AND DECEMBER 31, 2025.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the State Auditor to review no-bid contracts issued by state and county agencies during declared states of emergency between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025. The audit will examine how agencies justified these contracts, selected vendors, determined pricing, and maintained accountability for public funds during emergency periods. This review aims to identify inconsistencies in emergency procurement practices and provide recommendations for potential legal reforms. The Auditor must submit findings and suggestions to the Legislature before the 2027 session begins.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill promotes fiscal responsibility by auditing emergency no-bid contracts to ensure accountability and proper use of public funds.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Procurement

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 153: REQUESTING THE HAWAII STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ENSURE GOOD FAITH IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS DOCTORAL EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY STIPEND AGREEMENTS AND TO ESTABLISH AND FUND APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST POSITIONS CONSISTENT WITH CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii State Department of Education to fulfill its contractual obligations to doctoral-level educational psychology stipend recipients by establishing and funding appropriate Educational Psychologist positions. The bill asks the department to provide a detailed report on the number of program participants, existing positions, and how current job classifications align with the doctoral training and licensure requirements originally promised. It specifically seeks clarification on whether Mental Health Interventionist roles adequately reflect the specialized education and skills of these professionals, and requests a plan to expand positions statewide to meet both student mental health needs and workforce commitments. The resolution aims to ensure fiscal accountability and fairness to professionals who made multi-year service agreements based on specific job classifications and placement guarantees.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill requests funding for educational psychology positions and ensures contractual stipend commitments are fulfilled, supporting education budget allocation75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill seeks to fulfill contractual obligations for educational psychology positions, ensuring funding and proper staffing for specialized educational roles.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Student Health

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in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HCR 167: REQUESTING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE STATE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL, PERFORMANCE, AND COMPLIANCE AUDIT OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVING STATE FUNDS FOR HOMELESSNESS-RELATED SERVICES.

This bill requests the Hawaii Attorney General and State Auditor to conduct a comprehensive audit of nonprofit organizations that receive state funding for homelessness-related services. The audit will examine financial records, performance outcomes, and compliance with state laws, focusing initially on organizations in Honolulu before expanding statewide. Key areas of review include how funds are spent, executive compensation levels, service effectiveness, and the accuracy of reported client data. The resolution aims to ensure transparency and fiscal responsibility in the use of public funds dedicated to addressing homelessness.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill promotes fiscal responsibility by auditing nonprofit spending and executive compensation, ensuring state funds are used effectively for homelessness services.75% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill audits homeless service nonprofits to ensure proper fund usage and service effectiveness, indirectly supporting housing stability for homeless individuals.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Homelessness

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 20, 2026

SB 3246: RELATING TO HOSPITAL DISCHARGE DATA.

Establishes a statewide system for the collection, audit, and public release of de‑identified hospital discharge data. Requires the State Health Planning and Development Agency to convene a Hospital Discharge Data Working Group. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds for a statewide hospital data system, directly funding a state program under budgetary authority.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAppropriates funds to establish statewide hospital discharge data system, enhancing health data transparency and planning for public health initiatives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Hospitals

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 3304: RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Requires the State Auditor to conduct audits of Medicaid health care insurance contractors and the Department of Human Services and its Med-QUEST division at least once every two years, with the first audits to be conducted by 1/1/2027, and the reports to be submitted no later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2027. Requires the Auditor to conduct audits. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires biennial Medicaid audits with appropriated funds, strengthening fiscal oversight and accountability per Budget & Taxes topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 2364: RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST.

Requires the office of the legislative analyst to produce fiscal notes on all fiscal bills. Prohibits a committee from making a decision on a fiscal bill without a fiscal note. Mandates that fiscal notes be made available to the public. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates fiscal notes for transparency and accountability in budget decisions, promoting fiscal responsibility per bill's requirements for committee action and public access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Audits & Accountability State Budget

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2662: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY.

Requires each purchasing agency to provide justification for hiring external consultants. Requires each agency to seek approval from the Legislature for consulting contracts exceeding a certain dollar amount. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Requires the Compliance Audit Unit within the Office of the Auditor to conduct regular audits of agency consultant contracts to assess cost-effectiveness and compliance. Establishes exceptions. Requires each chief procurement officer to ensure that inherent government functions are not delegated to a contractor. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes spending caps and audit requirements on consultant contracts to enhance fiscal accountability in state spending, aligning with fiscal responsibility indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Procurement

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1091: RELATING TO REMOTE WORK ASSESSMENTS.

Requires the Comptroller, in coordination with the Department of Human Resources Development, to periodically assess telework-eligible allocations of employees of certain state executive branch departments and agencies. Requires the first assessment and notification to be completed by 6/30/2026. Establishes a position within the Department of Accounting and General Services. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2491. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for telework assessment position, directly addressing budget allocation per subjects and summary.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 2524: RELATING TO AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Requires the Auditor to conduct an audit of the Department of Education focusing on financial efficiency and administrative overhead costs affecting department of education schools on the island of Oahu.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAudit mandates financial efficiency review of DOE spending, promoting fiscal responsibility through administrative cost oversight.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 2193: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT HOMELESSNESS SPENDING.

Requires the State Auditor, in collaboration with the Office of the City Auditor for the City and County of Honolulu, to conduct a financial audit of all state and City and County of Honolulu expenditures on homelessness programs within the City and County of Honolulu during the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 fiscal years. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for audit of homelessness program spending, promoting fiscal accountability in government expenditures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

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