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HR 215

AUTHORIZING AND EMPOWERING THE SPEAKER TO PERFORM AND CARRY OUT ANY OFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS DURING THE INTERIM BETWEEN THE 2026 AND 2027 REGULAR SESSIONS.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lauren Matsumoto and 1 co-sponsor

Authorizes the Hawaii House Speaker to continue official legislative work, hire staff, manage committees, and issue subpoenas through Jan 20, 2027.

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Bill Summary · HR 215

Overview

HR 215 of the Hawaii House (Regular Session 2026) authorizes and empowers the Speaker of the House to perform and carry out official legislative business during the interim period between the 2026 and 2027 Regular Sessions. The measure sets out authority to spend, hire staff, manage committees, issue subpoenas, authorize payments, and report activities, through January 20, 2027. The resolution adds this interim authority to existing powers already granted to the Speaker or other officers.

Main purpose

  • Provide explicit interim authority to the Speaker to continue essential legislative work after adjournment of the 2026 Regular Session and until the start of the 2027 Regular Session.
  • Ensure continuity of legislative operations, including investigations, committee actions, and reporting, during the interim period.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Expenditure authority

    • The Speaker may expend funds appropriated for legislative and other expenses of the Thirty-third Legislature, Regular Session of 2026, to carry out interim work.

  2. Hiring and staffing

    • The Speaker may contract, hire, or employ personnel and assistance as needed.
    • The Speaker may designate which House employees/officers receive additional employment to meet after-session workload.
    • The Speaker may approve employment of individuals prior to the convening of the 2027 Regular Session and set the period of employment for each.

  3. Committee authority and operations

    • The Speaker may establish and approve actions for standing, interim, select, investigative, and special committees.
    • The Speaker may authorize meetings to obtain information and hearings, determine committee members, functions, and duties, and issue subpoenas as permitted by law or House rules.
    • The Speaker may authorize in writing payments for committee-related expenditures before they are incurred.
    • The Speaker may require full periodic reporting on committee activities (including findings and recommendations) to the Speaker, and a report to the Legislature within ten days after the convening of the 2027 Regular Session.

  4. Journal approval

    • The Speaker is authorized to approve the Journal of the House for any legislative day being compiled as of the 58th session day.

  5. Duration and scope

    • The interim authority covers work through January 20, 2027.
    • The resolution is additive to existing authorizations granted to the Speaker or other House officers, increasing flexibility for interim operations.

Who is affected

  • The Speaker of the Hawaii House of Representatives, who gains expanded authority to manage interim legislative activities.
  • House staff and officers who may be employed or allocated to after-session work.
  • House committees (standing, interim, select, investigative, and special) that may be formed or operated during the interim.
  • The Legislature, which will receive periodic reports on committee activities and a final report by the start of the 2027 Session.
  • Potential vendors, contractors, or individuals hired to support interim legislative work.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: The resolution is adopted and in effect for the interim period between the 2026 and 2027 Regular Sessions.
  • Duration: Authorization valid through January 20, 2027.
  • Reporting: Committees must provide findings and recommendations; the Legislature must receive a report within ten days after the 2027 Session convenes.
  • Journal: The Speaker may approve interim Journals related to the interim activities.

Notes

  • The action history indicates the resolution was adopted in final form on May 8, 2026, with no aye votes noted (procedural clarification available in legislative records).
  • Co-sponsors: Rep. Sean Quinlan and Rep. Lauren Matsumoto.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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